Week 3 | Day 3 | Judging or Judgement?

Command:

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” Matthew 7:1 (NIV)

Read:

Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”“No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” John 8:9-10 (NIV)

Reflect:

At a recent family gathering, we were discussing our results from a personality test we had taken. I agreed with the results but was unsettled about having “judging” listed as one of my personality traits.

I then recalled the story of the woman caught in adultery. The Pharisees asked Jesus if they should stone a woman who had committed adultery. It appeared that there was no right decision. If Jesus agreed to stone the woman, he would be violating Roman law by condemning a person to death. If he did not agree to stone her, he would be violating the law of Moses. The Pharisees thought they had Jesus trapped.

Of course, Jesus had the perfect answer. “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” The accusers walked away. Jesus and the woman were the only ones left when he asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” 

Jesus did not call her “Adulteress” or even refer to her as “Sinner”. Instead, he called her “Woman.” He saw her as God created her. Without condemning the woman, Jesus recognized what she had done was sinful. His response is a beautiful example of judging actions rather than judgment of the person.

I am to use good judgment in making decisions, in my words and actions. At times I may recognize other’s actions as sinful. However, I must be careful to not identify them as the sin itself or to sit in judgment of them for their sin. Judging as a personality trait is not all bad. The Lord calls us to use good judgment and discernment. However, the judgment of people is solely in God’s hands. 

Thankfully, the Lord doesn’t call us by our sin. As Christians, we receive forgiveness and salvation for our sins through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. He knows our names and calls us “Beloved.”

React:

Who is someone that speaks words or acts in ways that offend you? How can you remove that as the lens you see them through and instead love them as a child of God?

Pray:

Lord Jesus, you have restored my story too many times to count. I’m so thankful that you don’t call me by my sin but instead call me “Beloved.” Help me to remember how much you love those around me also. May I have a heart of discernment and wisdom without making judgements of others.