Day 222 Judging others

Judging situations"
"And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!"

Judging Others and personal integrity. We are called to take a personal inventory of our actions.
Matt 7:1-2 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "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?

Luke 6:37-38"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

John 5:30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. Here is the criteria for judging situations and people.

Psalm 94 Puts judging in the place where it belongs
1 The LORD is a God who avenges. O God who avenges, shine forth.2 Rise up, Judge of the earth;pay back to the proud what they deserve.3 How long, LORD, will the wicked,how long will the wicked be jubilant?....7 They say, "The LORD does not see;the God of Jacob takes no notice."
8 Take notice, you senseless ones among the people;you fools, when will you become wise? 9 Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?Does he who formed the eye not see?
10 Does he who disciplines nations not punish?Does he who teaches human beings lack knowledge? 11 The LORD knows all human plans;he knows that they are futile.

Knowing that its The Lord who will ultimately, judge and avenge the wrong, what is our responsibility to protect ourselves and others from evil. The old addage comes to mind, "evil prevails because the good did nothing".
James6:16-20 is very clear. "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back,remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins".

Firstly, if we are judging others and doing the same things as the perpetrator of the evil then we will be judged the same as we have judged others. Its reciprocal judgment. Our integrity is on the line and we are judged accordingly.Romans chapter 1 explains this in detail.But fear of judgment on ourselves is often used to get out of the responsibility to address issues and concerns.

Secondly, judging is not personal, the actions are deemed wrong no matter who does them. So how do we encourage people to see what they are doing is against goodness and righteousness? Well God in Jere 31: 3 "The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love;I have drawn you with loving-kindness.." Hosea 11:3-5 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness,with ties of love;I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them.

Romans 2:3-5 So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?

Showing Kindness to the wrong doer is the first step and our motivation in dealing with any level of evil. How that translates into the various scenarios of life needs the wisdom of God to implement. Personally, this is a real challenge to get the language precise when communicating a mistreatment that needs correcting. Ducking and Diving through life is not the most noble way of living. Showing Kindness the way God does is a noble quest that will keep us on our spiritual toes!