Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Oh, man, this is tough, isn’t it? Sometimes, we feel we hold the bar of comparison. We lie to ourselves, saying our sin isn’t as bad as theirs. Or we think there’s no way I’m as bad as he is. Or we frown on other’s beliefs. We judge each other’s material things. Their car is a piece of junk, their house isn’t worth having, their kids are simply heathen, and our self righteous vision keeps on looking. Keeping up with Jones has become an Olympic event of judgment and condemnation. We rationalize that we are better. We have better things, all because we feel we deserve it. The bottom line is that we don’t. God’s word tells us we deserve death and condemnation. But Jesus came to forgive. He came to teach us forgiveness. How forgiven would we be if He only forgave us like we forgive others? I’m afraid not so much. We do not know what others have gone through or are going through. Judgment is not ours to deliver. Condemnation is not what we are called to do. Forgiveness is the challenge we’re charged with. That and to love as Jesus loved. He loved the thief. He loved the leper. He loved the prodigal. He loved the betrayer. He loved the prostitute. He loves the sinner. He loves me. He loves you. Praying this day, we exchange judgment and condemnation with love and forgiveness.
