Love Dare #21

Love Dare #21

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. Matthew 7:1-2

It's always someone else's fault. It is very hard to find someone with enough character and conviction to take responsibility for their own actions and short comings. If we're late, we blame it on the traffic, which we should have planned for. If we have a bad attitude, we excuse our rude and unnecessary behavior by blaming it on our hormones or circumstances or events that lead up to that point in your day, instead of preparing for our day by meeting with Jesus and asking for the Holy Spirit to permeate every fiber of our being, clothing ourselves in His righteousness. If a relationship fails or struggles, it's the other persons short comings and actions that is the cause, after all, we did everything right, right? Oh, boy, this is a tough one to hear. It's also tough when God reveals to us that a lot of what we blame and judge and disagree with in others, is a part of who we are also!
“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. Matthew 7:3-5

I never realized I was a judgemental person until I was treated in the same way that I had been treating others. I thought I was 'helping' my friends and family. They obviously didn't know the right way to act and live. So it was my responsiblity to ridicule every decision they made in parenting and relationships and life. I felt the need to tell them what worked for me and that they should be doing the same. When God showed me this, I was mortified and ashamed. Although it had been some time since I had done these things, I began one by one calling up my wounded friends and family members and apologizing for my wrong behavior and hurtful words. There is still a bit of resentment on their part at times, because you see, when you treat people in this way there is a defensive wall that goes up. They think of you as the opposing team looking to tear them down unlike a teammate who builds up. It take a long while for them to let you back in and take down their protective wall.

In life and relationships we MUST take responsibility for our own actions, attitudes, and short comings. That is the only thing we have the power to change. WE CANNOT CHANGE OTHER PEOPLE. Nor does God want us to. It is not our responsibility to point out every wrong thing someone does in our eyes. We are all very different people. God intended it that way. Different people, fill different roles here on earth to bring glory to His kingdom. If there is something inside a person that concerns us, we are to pray for them, and love them, and listen when they need an ear, and offer words of encouragement, and give good, Godly counsel if it is asked of us- God will do the transforming.

So the big question is, have you been covering up your own wrong-doing and short comings by judging others and pointing out their every fault? Have you neglected to do a self-examination of your own heart and words and actions. Are you constantly pointing the finger at the other person(s), gossiping, placing yourself above others? Search your heart today and ask God to show you if these things are in you. Repent and pray for the nerve to contact those you've offended and judged to ask their forgiveness. Pray for a sweeter spirit and a heart that more resembles Christ than the world. Be an example to others by the way you act, speak, respond, and carry yourself- choose today to not be a stumbling block any longer.

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. Romans 14:13

But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's." Matt. 16:23

A Simple Guide for Behavior
Matthew 7:1-5 "Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor. *Taken from BibleGateway.com