JUDGE NOT

John 8:7 (NIV) “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

It is so easy to see another person’s faults and not see our own. For some reason, we feel that we are just fine, but the world around us is very sick. Oh we publicly admit that we know we aren’t perfect and that we have problems just like everyone else, but inside, we know we are not telling the whole truth. We judge others. We judge them by their appearance quite a bit. I do. We judge them by their words and/or actions. I do. If we are honest with ourselves, we judge those around us without giving it a second thought. It’s as if it is our right, almost our obligation, to judge others just because we can.

If no one judged others by their appearance there would be no “people of Wal-Mart” emails in constant circulation. Granted, there are some odd looking folks depicted in those pictures, however, we need to fight the urge to laugh and poke fun and rather understand that God loves those people the same way He loves us. We need to think of the fact that His forgiveness is available to those folks too, in spite of their appearance. You see, God doesn’t look at any of us and see anything other than our hearts. His judgment comes based on the condition of our heart. Trust me when I tell you that it has NOTHING to do with the clothes we wear, the cars we drive or the churches we go to. Our clothes and modes of transportation age and fade and rot away over time. Our churches are nothing more than buildings that house God’s TRUE church, His people. When services end, the building doesn’t uproot itself and mingle among the community or co-exist with those you work with. WE do that. WE are the church. What type of Christ are we portraying to the masses?

If you saw a person we would classify as “odd” looking or acting, would be greet them or avoid them. The socialization process that we go through, which clashes with Christian values oft times, tells us to avoid and not engage. We must learn to fight that urge and engage. It isn’t easy. It means leaving our “comfort zone”. I don’t like doing that. I am cozy in my “zone”. Just leave me alone and I will leave you alone. If we knew that individual was Jesus in earthly disguise, would we feel differently about him or her. Isn’t it Jesus? Isn’t it? Perhaps if we started looking at others that way, we would treat them or at least thinking of them differently. Who do we think we are to judge others for any reason, when God doesn’t judge us for our many faults and failings?

This is not meant to condemn anyone. I am pointing the finger at myself. I am guilty of this time and again. Perhaps you are the type of person who has the ability to look past the outer shell of a person and see their heart. If you are, then please prayer for those who do NOT seem to have that ability. And while you are at it, pray for me. May we all strive each day to be more like our Lord and Savior.

WALK WITH THE KING TODAY AND BE A BLESSING!!