Live 4 The LORD

​READ

37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38  give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”  (Luke 6:37–38, RSV2CE)

REFLECTION

Jesus specifically says to me not to judge or condemn others and I will not be judged or condemned. 

The reason I am angry and frustrated is because I am looking and judging what others are doing and then condemning them. 

When I have this haughty attitude I am putting myself in the place of God thinking I know the right judgment. In reality there are many weaknesses due to unseen circumstances and pain that result in bad decision choices. What I see as a serious issue could be minor compared to what the person is dealing with. I AM NOT GOD. 

My own pride is killing myself. When I am in a judgemental and prideful state I am cutting myself off from grace and stand judged and condemned myself. I now am a branch being shriveled close to falling off The Vine. 

Forgiveness not wanting to retaliate or demand my rights. It is leaving all the consequences to God, letting the person fall into the hands of God who knows perfect judgment. When I release, God can do what’s right and I am free and the person is rightly judged. 

If I do not forgive, I am holding on to poison that is destroying my soul not the person I am frustrated with. If I want forgiveness from God, I must be willing to do the same to my fellow neighbor (who I treat like I want to be treated). Holding on to unforgiveness is actually killing myself. 

The measure I give will be the measure I get. God does not lie. I am choosing my own destruction looking at and judging others. I must kill this tendency in me. It is from the devil. The devil wanted to be like God and tries to get me to do the same. 

Jesus, deliver me from this evil that plagues me. 

RESOLUTION 

Every time I start to look at another in any type of evaluation, help me turn my eyes to You my savior, cling to you, praise and thank you for something specific, and especially for the mercy and grace you give me! I choose to renounce, reject, and rebuke the evil tactics that are actually killing my own soul. 

REST

Thank you God for your word that wants to heal me. Thank you for telling me that I am the one responsible for my own demise. You have given me the Word to open my eyes and help me know what to do. Thank you my Father for your love, mercy, and grace! Help me extend it to others instead of judgement, unforgiveness, and condemnation! I repent! Amen.