DEVOTIONS

Monday, June 19 – “You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.” (Romans 2:1) Too many followers of Jesus have forgotten this teaching of the apostle Paul.  We are so quick to judge people’s sin.  Forgetting that this very act of judgment is, in itself, a sin.  And God, unlike us, doesn’t delineate any differences between sin.  All sin separates us from God and is thus, bad.  Don’t judge others.  Simply walk with others. 

Tuesday, June 20 – “’Consider carefully what you hear’, he continued.  ‘With the measure you use, it will be measured to you – and even more.’” (Mark 4:24) How would your life fair in the spotlight of your judgment?  You’re so quick to judge people.  How about yourself?  Are you willing to judge your own life as strictly as you judge other people’s lives?  Would you be willing to receive the exact same kind of judgment from others, that you have given out to others?  Consider this very carefully.  For what you decide will mean a great deal for your life.

Wednesday, June 21 – “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.  For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14) Justified means to be made right in your relationship with God.  This has been the goal since the fall of Adam and Eve, in the Garden of Eden.  Your sin separates you from God.  Thus, in order to be justified before God you’re invited to humble yourself, acknowledge your sinfulness and place your faith in Jesus.  God will then exalt you and forgive you.  Making your relationship right again.  Or you can exalt yourself and see how that works out. 

Thursday, June 22 – “How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Luke 6:42) Makes sense doesn’t it?  How can you judge someone else, when you are just as bad, if not worse?  This will really make sense when you understand that: You will never see clearly enough to remove the speck from someone else’s eye.  For the moment you start focusing on someone else’s speck, your plank reenters your eye.  So, simply leave the in-speck-ting to God!     

Friday, June 23 – “You blind guides!  You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.” (Matthew 23:24) The sin in someone else’s life isn’t nearly as big as the sin in your life; if you’re going around judging people.  We are called to love, not judge.  Are we called to help others?  Yes.  But since when did help look like judgment?  If you see someone on the side of the road with a flat tire, do you pull over and question their morals and ethics?  Do you criticize their decision-making?  Do you ask them what bad thing they did to deserve a flat tire?  I hope not.  I hope that you pull over and help them change their tire.

Saturday, June 24 – “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes.  He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart.  At that time each will receive their praise from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:5) Sadly, many followers of Jesus are tough on others because they have been taught that practicing that type of judgement is pleasing to God.  God isn’t pleased when his children are hating on each other, judging each other and condemning each other.  God will take care of all the judging, in the appointed time.  Between now and then, your job, as a follower of Jesus, is to love your neighbors as you love yourself.