We can be our own
worst enemies. The Lord clearly tells us how to live. We are to treat one
another with a godly love. We are to strive to live peacefully with each other,
helping each other to become more like Christ so that together we may bring
Christ to the world. We are to practice what we call agape love (see I
Corinthians 13:4-8a) with one another so that our witness for Christ will not
be tarnished. We, however, so often don't act like we should. We are easily
prone to judge others for what we perceive to be true about them and we
criticize them, whether it's justified or not. We in essence play God with
them. We think we can determine what is in their heart.
Jesus forewarns us
about what we need to do before we jump in as judges over others. We must first
examine our own hearts and present ourselves honestly to God. We must not attempt
to judge the motives of others with anything less than a pure heart before God.
We must understand our own sinfulness and repent of it. We are in no position
at all to judge someone else when we harbor sin in our hearts. All of us are
sinners and deserve to be judged for our sins. Yet, God is merciful and doesn't
do that to us. Everyone should be treated in the same way we want to be treated
by both God and man.
Granted, there are
times in which sin must be confronted and dealt with, but it should never be
done with anything but love and mercy. The goal is always reconciliation and
not alienation. Bathe all your attitudes and actions towards others first in
prayer---for yourself and for others. Be sure your heart is pure before God
before you sit in judgment over others.
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