Judgement

We have seen the shows, been in the courtrooms, heard the arguments, and  read the commentaries, We have thought through the opposing viewpoints and have assessed from our limited knowledge what we believe to be  true and what is not.  But it is the judge and the jury who make a final decision on the outcome and penalties that are brought to our worldly courts.   

But who is our real judge?  It is GOD.  He is the one who does not rely on a jury but he and he only makes judgements according to his way, his law and his word. I heard a sermon this past week by Craig Smith at the Vail Church and the way he explained judgement was quite simple:  There is a rightful judge and it is not me!  He is able to save or to destroy. But how many times do we act as if we are the judge? 

The bible is clear in Matthew 7:3-4

³ “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? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?

When we look at the faults of others without realizing that we have got so many faults of our own it is called inspection without introspection… meaning we are thinking “I am better that that person we are finding fault with thus we are being a hypocrite.  

Here are a few notes that were very convicting to me: 

1)I have heard many times to take the plank out of my own eye before trying to remove the speck in someone else’s…it made sense…a plank is a big log… and if that log is in your own eye how in the world would we be able to see a tiny speck in someone else’s? 

2)  Integrity – evaluation with realization – Be aware of your own faults

3) Humility – take the plank out of your own eye

4) Mercy participation with degradation – when we are loving and filled with mercy grace…that is when we are able to help someone else

5) Where we go wrong in relationships - we want justice for everyone else but mercy for ourselves. 

6) If we feel a need to confront a situation that is not biblically sound…. We are called to do it and defend the truth that is written in the bible, not the truth that we have deemed ourselves to be true… But be gentle, and humble. And ask God for guidance in your words, and be merciful in your delivery.   

Mercy flows through integrity when we take the plank out of our own eye..... it is only then we can  better see to help others.  

God has  a standard of holiness that none of us can live up to and that is why he sent Jesus to atone for our misbehavior and sins.  We all have got stuff…and what I am trying to learn from this is to give people a pass and let God be their judge; for I have enough to work rather than to try to fix others. 

Love people for who they are and not what you want them to be. Everybody has a story ...and most of us don't have a clue about where people have been and where God is taking them.

It is not an excuse for any of our bad behavior but it might ultimately be what God is using to grow us and teach of lessons of his will as we are subjected to what has been shown by others and our reactions to it.

God is our ultimate judge and thank God he shows mercy to me and to all of us who believe and trust in his name.  …

MERCY GIVES..... JUDGEMENT TAKES

We are called to give people a piece of our heart not a piece of our mind.  

James 2:12-13

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

This sermon was such a reminder that when I am hard on others and judge them ….I am most likely giving myself the pass of mercy rather than giving them that pass of mercy that God has given them. 

Judge not lest you be judged.  

Praise God wherever you are or whatever situation he has allowed you to be in...for his Glory will shine through!

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