Previous Devotions                                                                          020

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged." Matthew 7:1
 

 

We Are Not Judges!

 

(In) considering the importance of building good relationships in the kingdom of God and are seeing that in order to do this we must learn to bury our criticism and condemnation of others. One notable preacher said: "When we are in the prosecutor's stand we cannot be in the witness box. If we are denouncing others then we are not announcing Jesus."

During the many years I have been a minister and a counsellor I have dealt with hundreds of problems created by rifts between individuals, and I have discovered that one reason why people harbour grudges is because they are aware of some, and not all, of the facts relating to a problem.

 

When all the details have been disclosed then this makes a tremendous difference to their understanding and, in consequence, to their willingness to forgive. Often to know all is to forgive all.

Long ago I decided that only God is big enough, good enough and wise enough to decide other people's destinies, and then I gave up attempting to be the judge of the world I found a release in my spirit which has stayed with me to this very day. At one time I used to go about judging others and trying to run God's universe for Him, but I broke down physically as a result. A wise friend advised me: "Selwyn, stop trying to run the world and act the part of God." I did- and I have never done so again. We have such limited knowledge of people and their motives that we are in no position to judge them. So stop playing the judge. It is not your role to play. Only God knows the motives which prompt people to act the way they do. Our task is to love everybody -and leave the judgement to God.

 

O Father, save me from the evil of criticism and condemnation, and pour into my heart the power of Your love, which sees all and understands all. In Jesus' name. Amen.

.

 

 

Current devotion taken from: Every Day with Jesus - The Unshakeable Kingdom. May/Jun 2002

written by Selwyn Hughes

Copies of this daily devotional are available from CMP office $5.50 each.

 

 

Back to Current Devotion