Devotional - 98-05-08 - It's Not In Our Job Description

Jesus' Difficult Teachings, Part 15

Do any of these thoughts sound familiar to you?

• "She shouldn't be buying that cake mix with food stamps."
• "Those kids are out-of-control - what a negligent dad."
• "He is the meanest person that I know."

But what if... the mother is a single mother, who was battered by her husband, and who is now trying to keep herself and her family of 5 afloat--with a 5-year old who is having his first birthday party ever? What if the "wild children" have just lost their mother to a tragic illness?

What if the bitter man is a man whose life has had more than his share of disappointments and deep hurts?

(Mat 7:1-5 NRSV) Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. ² For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. ³ Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? ⁴ Or how can you say to your neighbor, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' while the log is in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye.

God put us here to further His Kingdom, not to sit in judgment of His other children. That's not in our job description; it's in Christ's. : ) And Christ says that the plumb line of how we are treated, will be how we treat others. Scary thought, huh? Would we want someone thinking judgmental thoughts about us? Do we want Christ judging us for our judging others? So the next time we start to judge someone, let's stop and ask ourselves: Haven't I ever done anything that could be misunderstood? Haven't my children ever been a little rambunctious? Haven't I ever taken things out on people who did nothing to me?

Those of you who have been with us awhile are probably tired of hearing this from me. But one thing that has helped me is to ask God to help me see people through Christ's eyes. It's really hard to judge someone when you see them as someone precious to our Lord, someone He died for, someone He loves as much as He does you and me.

Dear Lord, please help us to overcome judgmental thoughts and words, and to treat others as we want to be treated ourselves. In Jesus' name, amen.

Jan