God's Turf
I love words and their uses, in particular, I love how the Bible masterfully uses words to teach us the truth about our lives.I love how the Bible masterfully uses words to teach us the truth about our lives.
We are often told never to judge, that it's sinful, and inconsiderate to our fellow men. The Bible states that there are two behaviors associated with judging. One is judging motives and the other judging actions.
Sadly many Christians often mistake what the Bible actually says about judging others.
Check it out, one of the most widely read passages of the Bible on judging others is Matthew 7:16, in this Scripture we learn to be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way. Don’t be impressed with charisma; look for the character. Who a preacher is, is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your bankroll. One day these diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned.
Well, that's pretty darn judgemental, right? Yes and rightfully so. Ask yourself, would you invite a known thief, a person you have seen steal, into your home? Give them the keys to your house?
I think not.
Why? Jesus says, "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.”
Scripture never contradicts Scripture. In Matthew 7:5, Jesus explains that once we address our own sin, we are then to help people with their sin. Jesus would not tell people judgment is always sin but then tell people to judge. Clearly, there are two forms of judgment, one focusing on the motives (thoughts) and the other focusing on the actions (behaviors).
Matthew 7:1-2 also states that we are not to judge other people’s motives because when we do we are going back to a works-based view of salvation.
Throughout the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus was explaining that it's impossible for people to save themselves because even if they obeyed the law perfectly (works-based), our inner hearts and motivations are still sinful.
Did you hear that? Motivations. Motives.
Motivations/Motives, these are thoughts.
Only Jesus can judge our thoughts, not us. We can however judge what our eyes see and ears hear. If we see evil acts, it's evil, if we hear spiteful language, it's bad, plain and simple. Get away from it!!!
On the other hand, if we sense a person has negative thoughts, then we are called to pray for them and share other options with them thereby steering them towards the path to Christ. This is not judgment, this is concern.
Remember the Word teaches us that judging motives (thoughts), is wrong - this is God's turf. Judging actions (actual behaviors), that's the right thing to do.
Here 5 reasons judging motives is wrong:
1. We belittle ourselves. Often when we judge others harshly we are actually taking traits about ourselves that we don’t like and projecting them on to others. The next time you find yourself tempted to judge using epithets like racist, biget, etc, look deep within yourself. Are you being critical of this person because they remind you of your own faults and failings?
2. It opens the door for negativity. Negativity begets negativity. Any type of negative energy that we put out into God's universe will return to us in some form. Judgmental thoughts and beliefs open the door for negativity to walk right into our lives.
3. It diminishes our capacity for love. We cannot truly love anybody (including ourselves) when we harbor critical, judgmental thoughts. We will not experience authentic love and freedom if we chain ourselves to negativity. Focusing on the good in others helps sets the stage for a flow of positive energy, and sharing of the Light of Christ with those who are struggling with a decision.
4. We don’t know the whole story. I'll speak for myself here, I don’t know what motivates people! I don't. Perhaps their thoughts are the result of deep physical or emotional trauma. Maybe they went to bed hungry last night. Perhaps they are facing a financial crisis. They may be struggling with depression or addiction. Maybe their behavior strikes me as rude when it is actually a defense mechanism. Every person on the planet has experienced pain and suffering at some point in their lives. I choose to give them a break from judging and pray they will do the same for me in times of brokeness.
5. We miss out on potential blessings. We all share the same space. Every single person who lives has something special to offer. Each encounter we have with others is an opportunity to expand our own self-growth. If you choose to close your heart and your mind by constantly finding fault, then you could miss out on opportunities to meet and interact with people who may enrich your life and make you a better person.
Let us pray -
Heavenly Father Your men ask that you would give us understanding and discerning hearts. Help us to be slow to get angry but quick to respond to the needs, disappointments, and problems that others are facing.
Keep us Lord from developing a judgmental spirit that so often causes us to jump to the wrong conclusions. Prevent us from speaking too hastily, which often cause sadness and pain to those that are in need of love, not more trouble.
Lord, Your men want to be used by You as a channel of blessings. Too often we speak out of turn and do not show the loving compassion that we want to show. Teach us Lord, teach us how to relate to people, on their level, on their time, and in a way that pleases you.
O, Lord, we pray that You would change each man here form the inside out, to be the person that You will have us to be - mold us, shape us, construct us, and open our hearts to humility, patience, and compassion for others. In Jesus' name, we pray.
Amen! Amen! Amen!
SCRIPTURE
Ephesians 4:29
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
We are often told never to judge, that it's sinful, and inconsiderate to our fellow men. The Bible states that there are two behaviors associated with judging. One is judging motives and the other judging actions.
Sadly many Christians often mistake what the Bible actually says about judging others.
Check it out, one of the most widely read passages of the Bible on judging others is Matthew 7:16, in this Scripture we learn to be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way. Don’t be impressed with charisma; look for the character. Who a preacher is, is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your bankroll. One day these diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned.
Well, that's pretty darn judgemental, right? Yes and rightfully so. Ask yourself, would you invite a known thief, a person you have seen steal, into your home? Give them the keys to your house?
I think not.
Why? Jesus says, "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.”
Scripture never contradicts Scripture. In Matthew 7:5, Jesus explains that once we address our own sin, we are then to help people with their sin. Jesus would not tell people judgment is always sin but then tell people to judge. Clearly, there are two forms of judgment, one focusing on the motives (thoughts) and the other focusing on the actions (behaviors).
Matthew 7:1-2 also states that we are not to judge other people’s motives because when we do we are going back to a works-based view of salvation.
Throughout the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus was explaining that it's impossible for people to save themselves because even if they obeyed the law perfectly (works-based), our inner hearts and motivations are still sinful.
Did you hear that? Motivations. Motives.
Motivations/Motives, these are thoughts.
Only Jesus can judge our thoughts, not us. We can however judge what our eyes see and ears hear. If we see evil acts, it's evil, if we hear spiteful language, it's bad, plain and simple. Get away from it!!!
On the other hand, if we sense a person has negative thoughts, then we are called to pray for them and share other options with them thereby steering them towards the path to Christ. This is not judgment, this is concern.
Remember the Word teaches us that judging motives (thoughts), is wrong - this is God's turf. Judging actions (actual behaviors), that's the right thing to do.
Here 5 reasons judging motives is wrong:
1. We belittle ourselves. Often when we judge others harshly we are actually taking traits about ourselves that we don’t like and projecting them on to others. The next time you find yourself tempted to judge using epithets like racist, biget, etc, look deep within yourself. Are you being critical of this person because they remind you of your own faults and failings?
2. It opens the door for negativity. Negativity begets negativity. Any type of negative energy that we put out into God's universe will return to us in some form. Judgmental thoughts and beliefs open the door for negativity to walk right into our lives.
3. It diminishes our capacity for love. We cannot truly love anybody (including ourselves) when we harbor critical, judgmental thoughts. We will not experience authentic love and freedom if we chain ourselves to negativity. Focusing on the good in others helps sets the stage for a flow of positive energy, and sharing of the Light of Christ with those who are struggling with a decision.
4. We don’t know the whole story. I'll speak for myself here, I don’t know what motivates people! I don't. Perhaps their thoughts are the result of deep physical or emotional trauma. Maybe they went to bed hungry last night. Perhaps they are facing a financial crisis. They may be struggling with depression or addiction. Maybe their behavior strikes me as rude when it is actually a defense mechanism. Every person on the planet has experienced pain and suffering at some point in their lives. I choose to give them a break from judging and pray they will do the same for me in times of brokeness.
5. We miss out on potential blessings. We all share the same space. Every single person who lives has something special to offer. Each encounter we have with others is an opportunity to expand our own self-growth. If you choose to close your heart and your mind by constantly finding fault, then you could miss out on opportunities to meet and interact with people who may enrich your life and make you a better person.
Let us pray -
Heavenly Father Your men ask that you would give us understanding and discerning hearts. Help us to be slow to get angry but quick to respond to the needs, disappointments, and problems that others are facing.
Keep us Lord from developing a judgmental spirit that so often causes us to jump to the wrong conclusions. Prevent us from speaking too hastily, which often cause sadness and pain to those that are in need of love, not more trouble.
Lord, Your men want to be used by You as a channel of blessings. Too often we speak out of turn and do not show the loving compassion that we want to show. Teach us Lord, teach us how to relate to people, on their level, on their time, and in a way that pleases you.
O, Lord, we pray that You would change each man here form the inside out, to be the person that You will have us to be - mold us, shape us, construct us, and open our hearts to humility, patience, and compassion for others. In Jesus' name, we pray.
Amen! Amen! Amen!
SCRIPTURE
Ephesians 4:29
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
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