76:8-9
From the heavens you uttered judgement;
the earth feared
and was still
when God rose up to establish judgement,
to save all the
oppressed of the earth.75:2
At the set time that I appoint
I will judge with
equity.
75:7
But it is God who executes judgement,
putting down one
and lifting up another.
And I thought about my day. The times I decided to be judge. To put others beneath me. To find reasons to think they weren't good enough.
And I cringed. Judgment is God's. And God's alone. So, when we judge. Put ourselves above, we are being the boastful ones. The wicked. I needed that reminder today. That judgment belongs to God.
Jesus--Forgive me of trying to do the things that are yours alone. Forgive me for trying to judge in your stead. Forgive me for the sideways glances, evil thoughts, and fake smiles. Fill me with your love so that I can see with your eyes. In your name we pray! Amen
Blessings!
Pastor Emily
3 comments:
I have to keep reminding myself of that too! Judgement is for God. Only He is holy and can judge what we do wrong. I have to watch my "outstretched neck" (75:5)
It is all too easy to place ourselves in the "judgment seat" even when we clearly know this is God's privilege alone. I've really had to work on this one in my spiritual journey as my upbringing sadly encouraged me to be judgmental of others, to place myself "above the crowd" when truly, all of us are equal in the eyes of God.
Today, when I find myself tempted to judge, I ask forgiveness right away. It's such a cleansing freedom!
Blessings!
I have recently developed a different view of judgement. I think too many times as Christians we shy away from guiding or expressing our opinions to others we are close to when they need some judgement in their lives. On the other hand, as Christians we often feel comfortable judging the lives and lifestyles of strangers and others from afar. We actually have it backwards. We are to "judge" or guide Christians who are part of our Christian family but we are to love and accept those who are not. Andy Stanley has a terrific DVD series on this called Judgement Call which I highly recommend. It will rock your world and your perceptions.
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