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Friday, August 16, 2013

Flying with Thursday's Word by Brenda Smith, part 2

Thursday's Word


There is a righteous kind of judgment we are supposed to exercise –with careful discernment. (John 7:24). When Jesus told us not to judge (Matthew 7:1), He was telling us not to judge hypocritically. “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” What Jesus was condemning here was hypocritical, self-righteous judgment of others. Don’t judge someone else for their sin when you are sinning even worse. If a believer sees another believer sinning, it is his Christian duty to lovingly and respectfully confront the person with his sin (Matthew 18:15-17). This is not judging, but rather pointing out the truth in hope – and with the ultimate goal – of bringing repentance in the other person and restoration to fellowship. We are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).
It is inappropriate to think that we can correctly understand the reason people may be asking for assistance, unless, we know the root of the problem. When we understand the root of people’s problems we tend to be more sympathetic, compassionate and patient with them. Learn to give people the benefit of the doubt. Let God be the judge and do not try to take His place as the righteous judge. This will go a long way in preventing problems and resolving differences and minimizing self-destructive attitudes, actions and thinking.
Quote: “Great people are the ones unconscious of greatness; only little people want to increase their significance by putting down others.”

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