Here Comes the Judge; And It's Me!

 

We are among today’s living generations that continue, as those before us, to judge everyone and everything around us. Some would say, ‘It’s for my own protection and the safety of my love ones.’ Yes, God gave each of us an ego to be used to perceive things around us and adapt to that which affects our lives. It’s sort of a way of self-protection, but this God-given gift can be used negatively in our lives and prevent us from being God’s conduits for His Love and Grace to others.

In Matthew 7:3, Jesus says, “Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye.”  We miss opportunities for apostolic action in life when we’re focused on defects in others, rather than surrendering to God’s Will for us in His ministry. Defects are much more noticeable in others than in our own selves.

It’s like a father who badgers his son constantly about his behavior. Maybe he sees himself in his son and was not able to overcome his own personal fault growing up. He says, “I’m not going to let my boy ruin his life like I’ve ruined mine. So the son rejects the father’s badgering and becomes just like his father.

When we see the negativity of ourselves in others, is it just easier to strike out at them instead of working on our own problems?        Are we really called to love that other person and have patience with them? Maybe if they sense our caring for them instead of our judging, they will be positively influenced by the forgiving and loving way we interact with them. They may become their own critic and try to gain our confidence in and our acceptance of them.

In Matthew 7:1-2, Jesus says, “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.”

Have you ever taken a person under your wing that is not liked by most of the people around you? Others think you’re crazy for putting up with the person.  They have no time in their life for those type people. They feel no sense of responsibility to be a blessing to that person – a positive influence in that person’s life.

In Matthew 7:5 Jesus says, “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.”

Jesus leads us to work on our own personal flaws and seek Him in our every moment of life. He’s telling us to get our own act straight and then we can be apostles in this world, because then we will be able to see the other person’s speck more clearly. We will not judge others, but be a loving coach and mentor as we help others remove their speck. Removing the log in our eye will make us expert removers of specks in others eyes.

Our action for the Lord will be completed with the result of bringing someone to Christ who saw our log disappear and became willing to let us help them remove their speck.