CONDEMNING OTHERS

Rom. 14:13  So don't condemn each other anymore.  Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not put an obstacle in another Christian's path.

When we condemn others, we are putting obstacles in their walk with the Lord.  We are hindering their progress by dragging them down with our words.  Instead of building them up and encouraging them to go farther with the Lord, we halt their progress. 

Living godly lives is difficult enough the way it is without someone pointing out to us all that we are doing wrong.  Granted, sometimes we do need correction so that we can stay on the right path to God, but we don't need to always be put down to the point where we are discouraged and defeated.  Negativity breeds negativity and we need to be careful that we are not an obstacle in another believer's path.

We need to be positive contributors to one another's walk.  We need to come alongside of others and gently prod them on to a deeper walk with the Lord.  We need to always offer guidance with love and tenderness.  We need to ask the Lord to guard our hearts so that we don't sit in judgment over others.  We need to ask Him for self-control over our tongues.  We need to ask Him to teach us how to be positive and not negative influencers in the lives of others.

Pride in our own righteousness is often the root cause of why we condemn others.  Ask the Lord to strip you of your pride, forgive you and keep you humble before Him.  Ask Him to keep you from being an obstacle in another Christian's path.