Teneisha Johnson
judge with compassion: Dark horse
"The universe was created to teach us, not judge us. Yet we judge ourselves and our world”
It is not easy to behave constructively in the face of negative expectations, criticism, blatant disrespect and negative emotions and it certainly is not easy to say a kind word when we are angry or sad.
However, whether or not life is easy, how we respond determines how we live.
Many times, in life we are quick to judge and slow to show compassion.
Matthew 7:1-5 says,
“1 Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye, when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye”.
I believe moral concepts are personal and each person should have the right to choose how they wish to live their lives.
What one culture, religion, or nation prohibits, another may accept as moral behavior.
Life is not simple.
I believe it is up to each of us as individuals to be responsible for our own moral values and be willing to accept any resulting consequence.
The bible tells us that people have a severe sin problem that it is altogether beyond their means to solve.
Jesus often illustrated with metaphors and parables the havoc sin can wreak in a person’s life.
“In Matthew 15:19 Jesus says, For out of the heart comes evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony and slander”.
Jesus also continued in verse 20 to state that this is really what makes a man unclean or we could say sinful.
He also taught us in Matthew 5:28, that external acts are not the only things that render a person guilty of sin; inner thoughts do as well.
It seems quite clear to me that the human race is desperately in need of salvation in the worst sort of way!
This salvation can be found by placing your faith in Jesus Christ.
John 3:16 states, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, so that whosoever believeth in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life”.
And right now, our present life is the only opportunity we have to place our faith in Him.
We live once, die once, and then face the judgement.
Now is the time for salvation.
The apostle Paul majestically inspired believers in 2 Corinthians 6:4-10,
“4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distress;
5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;
6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;
7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;
8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as imposters;
9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed;
10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.”
So, I say once again, even though as believers it may not be easy to smile in the face of blatant criticism, disrespect and plain old jealousy, the time is at hand and we each have a job to do.
Now is the time for salvation and if we must judge, let us judge with compassion, because many times it is “we” that need forgiveness.
