As I prepared to gather with co-workers for the holidays, I see a text message appear on my phone that stated, “Don’t Judge Me.” Minutes later, I get another message from someone else who will be in attendance of this gathering, with the same three words, “Don’t Judge Me.”
My first thought was about whether or not they would be late (as I usually am- yes, I am working on this), what they were wearing, who they invited…
Like a ton of bricks, a long while later, it came to me that they were talking about drinking alcohol and being drunk (and also possibly smoking weed and getting high).
Later, I thought… maybe they know the word. maybe they know what is right and what is wrong by what they know or have heard is in the Word.
Here are a few of my thoughts about this:
- I was being judged, facing claims of judging.
- They were judging themselves, noting that what they were doing was at least questionable, if not more. The mere fact of them saying that someone should not judge them indicated that judgment for some action, whatever it was, was questionable.
Here are a few points from the Word:
- Correct judging starts with self-examination. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, (and do so by the Lord’s standard’s) we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world (1 Cor 11:28-31); For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again (Matt 7:2).
- Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy (Proverbs 31:9).
- Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment (John 7:24).
- With these things in mind, I believe that as people of God, we need to prefer judgment and correction now, rather than throne judgment that may send us to hell with no opportunity for repentance or correction. I’d rather a friend come by and correct me than to never know what is proper or right. Moving through life without knowing any better and in hell, lift up my eyes.
- Finally, our experiences here on earth, includes being under the toot ledge of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. As we walk this walk, we learn to listen, obey and follow His instructions.
The bible proclaims, His ways are not like ours (Isaiah 55:8).
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out (Romans 11:33).
I do not think that the Lord would allow us to make bad judgments without calling us out or getting us back in alignment with His will and His thoughts. As we learn and grow, what we ‘judge’ will be a mirror of what is in the Word.
Closer 