Don't Judge

"Don't judge, or you too will be judged."  Matthew 7:11

This topic is near to my heart for two reasons:
 1)  I think a critical spirit is the problem that divides us as sisters, and keeps us from loving eachother as God commands us to!
2) I've had years and years of struggling with this issue. God has had to tear "logs" out of my eyes time and time again, until I finally started to see ALL people as God's creation, all sinful and selfish in nature but loved by God regardless! 


Exerpt taken from My Utmost For His Highest.  (This devotion book is a MUST.  If I could only save two books it would be the Bible, and My Utmost.)

"Jesus’ instructions with regard to judging others is very simply put; He says, “Don’t.” The average Christian is the most piercingly critical individual known. Criticism is one of the ordinary activities of people, but in the spiritual realm nothing is accomplished by it. The effect of criticism is the dividing up of the strengths of the one being criticized. The Holy Spirit is the only one in the proper position to criticize, and He alone is able to show what is wrong without hurting and wounding. It is impossible to enter into fellowship with God when you are in a critical mood. Criticism serves to make you harsh, vindictive, and cruel, and leaves you with the soothing and flattering idea that you are somehow superior to others. Jesus says that as His disciple you should cultivate a temperament that is never critical. This will not happen quickly but must be developed over a span of time. You must constantly beware of anything that causes you to think of yourself as a superior person.

 If I see the little speck in your eye, it means that I have a plank of timber in my own (see Matthew 7:3-5). Every wrong thing that I see in you, God finds in me. Every time I judge, I condemn myself (see Romans 2:17-24). Stop having a measuring stick for other people. There is always at least one more fact, which we know nothing about, in every person’s situation. The first thing God does is to give us a thorough spiritual cleaning. After that, there is no possibility of pride remaining in us. I have never met a person I could despair of, or lose all hope for, after discerning what lies in me apart from the grace of God."   -Oswald Chambers

So, it comes down to this.  When you catch yourself being critical and judgemental, be humble enough to allow God to show you the ugliness of that, and ask Him to help purify your heart. It's only with a pure heart and loving motives that we will have any hope of shining the love of Jesus to all people.

Be a woman of grace, love, and encouragement!  Resist the temptation to compare and critisize.  It only darkens our hearts, and prevents us from loving people the way we should!!! Shine on!