don't judge
So for some strange reason, when the Lord speaks to me, He has to tell me the same thing over. and. over. Like how not to judge people. You see, I am the kind of person who loves to build people up and encourage others. I love to make people smile. But I also have a problem with silently judging and condemning others, all the while forgetting to take the log out of my own eye. How ridiculous is that? My friends and I have this little thing where we'll say something ridiculous like "I just ate three cookies; don't judge," but how often do I really"judge?"
First, I am somewhat obsessed with Bethany Dillon's CD, and the song, "Deliver Me" is so convicting. One line says, "Deliver me from my hateful thoughts; I'm committing murder in the presence of God." The weight of this song lyric always hits me. I pride myself in not speaking too many "mean things," but then I think whatever I want to about others when I hardly know all the facts...something is not right with this picture.
So yesterday, when I got back from my wonderfully amazingly beautifully hilariously fun and relaxing family cruise (more details and pictures later), I of course spent a couple hours on the computer catching up on emails and the countless blogs Istalk follow. Donald Miller, one of my favorite authors, wrote about the importance of loving others instead of judging them. In "The Stuff of Good Friendships," he issued a challenge to go for 30 days without judging others, which he described as not thinking less of anyone. And I thought that was nice when I read it, but I really didn't intend to do anything about it.
Until this morning, when I read My Utmost for His Highest, and Oswald had some truth to share with me, too. With the first line of the entry, he said, Jesus' instructions with regard to judging others is very simply put; He says, "Don't." Ouch. So I looked back at Donald Miller's blog post and figured I should give this whole no judging thing a try. I'm not the center of the universe anyways; He is. What makes me think I can put myself above others? It is somewhat ridiculous...I'm hoping He shows me a lot in the next 30 days.
"Don't speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God's law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?"
-James 4:11-12
Bethany Dillon- Deliver Me
First, I am somewhat obsessed with Bethany Dillon's CD, and the song, "Deliver Me" is so convicting. One line says, "Deliver me from my hateful thoughts; I'm committing murder in the presence of God." The weight of this song lyric always hits me. I pride myself in not speaking too many "mean things," but then I think whatever I want to about others when I hardly know all the facts...something is not right with this picture.
So yesterday, when I got back from my wonderfully amazingly beautifully hilariously fun and relaxing family cruise (more details and pictures later), I of course spent a couple hours on the computer catching up on emails and the countless blogs I
Until this morning, when I read My Utmost for His Highest, and Oswald had some truth to share with me, too. With the first line of the entry, he said, Jesus' instructions with regard to judging others is very simply put; He says, "Don't." Ouch. So I looked back at Donald Miller's blog post and figured I should give this whole no judging thing a try. I'm not the center of the universe anyways; He is. What makes me think I can put myself above others? It is somewhat ridiculous...I'm hoping He shows me a lot in the next 30 days.
"Don't speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God's law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?"
-James 4:11-12
Bethany Dillon- Deliver Me