Stop Judging!

Reading: Matthew 7; Psalm 7 1 “Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. 2 For others will treat you as you treat them. Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged. 3 And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log from your own eye; then perhaps you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. (Matthew 7:1-5 NLT) Have you ever thought about what’s at work inside us when we judge others? What is it in us that makes it just about impossible (at least in our own strength) to keep from judging and criticizing other people? In me, it’s often about making myself look better by making others look worse—comparing! Sometimes, it’s because of hurt or envy. Sometimes it’s because I’m trying to justify something in me. Whatever the reason, it’s really unhelpful—and wrong! One of the silly ways this shows up is when I’m driving and I find myself being the “turn signal police!” I hate it when I judge people to be poor drivers because they don’t signal properly! I know it’s a heart issue, and I am learning to immediately ask God to forgive me for judging and to change the wicked thing in me that prompts it.

One day as I was driving, judging, repenting, and asking for help, God spoke this thought to me very clearly, “Observe without judgment.” So now, every time I see the other driver’s error, I say to my heart, “Observe without judgment!” And it’s working! I’m doing better! Prayer: Father, Please don’t give up on me! I purpose to stop judging others, both on and off the road! I know it’s a big deal and it’s about my heart. Thank you for being patient with me and please keep changing me until my heart is like Jesus’ heart. Amen.