Luke 6:37-38

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

The favorite pastime for many people is judging others. Teacher’s pet, employee of the month, or other favorite people, often become the targets of vicious tongues. I guess you would not even have to be in a favored position to have others “bad mouth” you. It is very easy to sit in some type of judgment of those around us if they do not come up to our expectations.

When we pray the personal prayer of confession and invitation inviting Jesus Christ to come into our heart and life as our personal Savior, we become new creatures. According to 2 Corinthians 5:17, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

Now, while we may have a new life in the Lord Jesus Christ, it does not mean that we have a holy life. The old ways of the flesh are still with us. We may try to deny them or pass over them, but every so often, even we are able to see what is so evident to others.

Little by little, or perhaps even in significant strides, we may begin to grow in God’s grace, and see old habits eliminated. There is one that seems to persist beyond all others – critical spirit and being judgmental of other people. It is almost as if we were placed as judges in an arena, and as we watch the performances of others, we give them a thumbs up or a thumbs down.

Jesus says we are not to judge others, nor are we to condemn others. But what about standards? So what about standards? Usually they are my standards imposed upon some other person’s life! I just have to believe that the God who is over all is able to do His own job of judging and condemning.

Before performing weddings, I counsel the couple. Most of them do not profess any spiritual background. I have them fill out a premarital questionnaire that will give me an idea of their background. In our modern age, it is common to see that they both have the same address.

I do not profess to be the most brilliant person in the world, but I can figure that one out fairly quickly, so I put on my straightest face and say, “I notice that you have the same address. Does that mean you are living together?” They answer, “Yes.” Here is the greatest revealer of God’s convicting power. I ask these two sitting in front of me, “Do you know that is contrary to God’s Word and not pleasing to Him?” I have yet to hear a “no” answer. They always say “yes.” I go on to work out some special arrangements with them. Notice, if you will, that I was not judging or condemning. I just presented God’s Word as it applies to their situation.

I would like for people to treat me that way. It is interesting that Jesus says that when we judge (that applies to us Christians as well as the unsaved), we will be judged. When we condemn, we will be condemned. He does not leave it in the negative, but gives us a positive promise. When we forgive, we will be forgiven. When we give, we will receive. There are some that reach into this passage and pull out the bit about giving and teach a doctrine that is not in context with the passage.

As believers we need to remind ourselves that we are always under the looking glass. We have a world of unbelievers who have seen others who claimed much but lived little. They talked more of a godly walk than they displayed. We must be different. We need to have the love of Jesus so completely permeating our life, that we will love other people. We will not doubt their relationship with the Lord, but will ask them about it.

Here is a question to determine if a person is truly a child of God? “What were the steps that led you to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior?” (Be silent and listen to the reply). If they say they have never accepted Him, ask if they would like to. Have a supply of the soul winning aids to use in presenting the plan of salvation. On the other hand, if they say that they have received the Lord, ask if they have ever doubted their salvation? Once again, listen. If they want to know for sure, share in the same way as you did with those who are first time seekers.

I hope that I have not wandered too far today. It may be of help to someone who is feeling on the edge of being judge, jury and executioner of the ungodly. Be loving, open and eager to listen before presenting God’s beautiful plan for their life.

Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Trust Him completely and be a blessing.

— Pastor Cecil