Hey, you can't judge me! Um, yes I can...

 I wanted to write something about a verse I hear quoted out of context all the time; ironically by non-Christians most of the time. Now Christians don’t get a pass here, because they are just as bad if not worse because they should know the context and how to use the verse.

I think most people know Matthew 7:1 even if they don’t know they do, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” This verse has been morphed and twisted to mean something it was not intended by secular society; namely telling someone they can’t judge someone’s actions or lifestyle. NEWS FLASH, you are wrong if you think that; and if you tell someone they can’t judge, well guess what? Based on your rules, you have done wrong by telling someone else they are doing wrong. See how that works?

Clearly we can’t escape making moral judgments.

Alright, if we take look at the context in which Jesus is speaking in Matthew 7:1-5, you will see Jesus IS making a moral judgment about certain people using metaphors comparing people to dogs and pigs.

Let’s take a look:

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.
6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. 

You can see in verse 6, Jesus is stressing that we should not continue to present Gods grace to those who persistently scoff and ridicule. As in Matthew 10:14, we must at some point shake the dust off our feet and move on to more receptive people.

The plank in the eye, I know, I’m getting to it. I did not skip verse 3-5, it’s coming. I have to say this first, I find very important to state that Jesus commanded us in John 7:24 to, “Stop judging according to outward appearances; rather judge according to righteous judgment”. So we see that we are not to judge people who look different to us or are outside of what we consider “normal” looking. Having worked with teens in youth Groups, you will see some that will make you go “hmmmmmm” but you will learn they are good kids with a big heart for the Lord.

So now to digest all this; how do we resolve this conflict of judging? We resolve it by taking a look at the spirit in which we make judgments. Are we making this judgment because we think we are better than them; or is there some true issues with their actions and or attitude that we need to address in the spirit of caring and humility? Are we self aware enough to see our weaknesses and if we are clean in the area in which we are pointing out in someone else?

Matthew 7:5 tells us to first look at ourselves, examine ourselves to remove the sin in our life first before attempting to remove it from someone else’s life. How can we help someone if we ourselves are doing the same thing? So if there is a problem to be dealt with, do it, but only after self examination.

Now the wrong kind of judgment will come across condemning and not helpful to the person. For us to make the correct type of judgments on moral or doctrinal matters, we need to first pray and approach the person with a humble heart (after self examination.) Also, we must always remember to treat others as we would like to be treated; we are not trying to come across as another hypocritical “religious” person condemning someone to hell. We have enough hypocrites in Christianity; we need disciples willing to lead the way by example, with caring and love. True, we are all sinners, but people still need to be called to task on moral and doctrinal issues.

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. - (Matthew 7:12)

So when “judging” comes up with people, make sure to define what you mean by the word judge. These conversations are never easy ones. Defining what your intent is will help in greasing the wheels in the conversation. We as Christians can’t back down on moral issues or making moral judgments, it is impossible to do. Even the people who say “don’t judge” can’t escape making a judgment. So yes, we can judge, we have to, no one can escape it; but remember we have enough hypocrites, so be careful. Remember we cannot judge someones place before God, only God can do that.

8 Ways God Blesses Us

By : 8 Ways God Blesses Us

1 Corinthians 1:1-9 lists eight ways God blesses us through Christ.
About 1 Corinthians

Corinth was the major commercial center in the Roman Empire. The city was famous for its wealth and also for being filled with every kind of evil. It was home to twelve pagan temples, including the Temple of Aphrodite, which housed over one thousand prostitutes. The city was so wicked that the term “Corinthianize” was coined to describe someone who practiced sexual immorality.

It was a city many would describe as God-forsaken, but God loves the unlovable and saves the unsaveable. So He sent Paul to preach the gospel and establish a church there.

Now living in this environment you can imagine that these new Christians would have trouble – and they did. There were divisions, legal problems, impurity and scandals throughout the Corinthian church. Instead of the Christians influencing the culture, the culture was influencing the Christians. So God lead Paul to write the book of 1 Corinthians to address these problems.

The book begins with nine verses laying out the believers standing before God and Paul uses this standing as the reason why they should change their ways. He basically says, “This is who you were, but this is who you are now in Christ, so live accordingly.”
1) God blesses us by adding us to His Church

Paul addresses the Corinthians in verse 2 as “the church of God which is at Corinth”. The word church means, “The called out ones”. It refers to people of every generation, every race, every nation, every walk of life, who were called out of the world and into the family of God.

1 Peter 2:9 describes the church as “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people,” who are to “proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

It’s a group made up of people so flawed and so deep in sin, yet they’re called “the Church of God.” The reason this is possible is because of the second way God blesses us.
2) God blesses us by sanctifying us

In verse 2 Paul first calls the Corinthians “the church of God”, now he calls them “those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus.”

To be sanctified means to be set apart for God’s purpose. We’re sanctified in three ways: positionally, progressively and ultimately.

We’re sanctified “positionally” when we come to Christ. Hebrews 10:10-12 explains: “We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.”

In the Old Testament the priests would continually make sacrifices because they never permanently paid for sin. But Christ offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice and has paid for our sins once and for all. So we’ve sanctified, or set apart, to obtain salvation through Christ.

Then we’re sanctified “progressively” throughout our Christian lives. Progressive sanctification is the process of dying to sin and living for Christ by becoming more like Him. Galatians 5:22 explains that whereas before we did the works of the flesh we’re now to produce the fruit of the Spirit which “is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Progressive sanctification isn’t about our salvation it’s about how we live after we’ve been saved.

Then finally we’re sanctified “ultimately” when we go to heaven. Throughout our lives we wrestle with sin but when we go to be with the Lord our sinful nature is left behind. 1 John 3:2-3 explains that “now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

That brings us to the third way God blesses us.
3) God blesses us by making us saints

Paul continues his address in verse 2 by referring to the Corinthians as “called to be saints or literally “called saints”. The word “saint” means the same as sanctify – to be made separate or to be made holy. Those who are the recipients of sanctification are called saints. So we could refer to saints as “the sanctified ones”.

Notice that they’re called saints now. Saints aren’t canonized by the church. Verse 2 goes on to explain that saints are those “who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.” If that describes you then you are a saint right now.

Now we move on to verse 4 and find the fourth way God blesses us.
4) God blesses us by making us recipients of His grace

In Verse 4 Paul says, “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus. The reason we’re the church of God, the reason we’re sanctified, the reason we’re called saints is because of God’s grace.

To receive grace means to receive undeserved favor. Just as there are different aspects of sanctification there are also different aspects of grace that the Christian enjoys.

There’s saving grace which is described for us in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Then there’s sustaining grace which we find in 2 Corinthians 12:9 where Paul is asking God to remove some hindrance. God responds by saying, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” And that caused Paul to say, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

So God’s grace doesn’t just save us, it also strengthens us, encourages us, and enables us to have joy in all circumstances.
5) God blesses us by enriching everything by Christ

Verse 5 says “You were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge.” Or, as the NIV puts it, “you have been enriched in every way-in all your speaking and in all your knowledge.”

James 2:5 tells us that “God has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him.” In 1 Corinthians 2:16 we’re told we have “the mind of Christ” which enables us to think on spiritual things. God showers us with gifts of salvation, fellowship, love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness and faithfulness. We’re given everything we need to serve God and be fulfilled spiritually.
6) God blesses us by confirming us

Verse 6 says that “the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you”

When someone comes to Christ the Holy Spirit applies salvation to the believer. Ephesians 1:13-14 tells us that “In Christ you trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

We can rest secure in the knowledge that the promises of God are guaranteed to those who are in Christ.
7) God blesses us by causing us to be blameless in the day of our Lord

Verse 8 says that “you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The day will come when God will judge men according to their works. But Psalm 32:1-2 reminds us that “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity.” Through Christ we stand blameless before God because all our sins were covered on the Cross.
8) God blesses us by calling us into fellowship

Finally in verse 9 we’re told we’re “called into the fellowship.” We’re called into a relationship with God and with fellow believers. 1 John 1:3 says “That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. God grants us the gift of a relationship with Him and the opportunity to join others in praising Him.

By : 8 Ways God Blesses Us

What is humility?

Zephaniah tells us in 3:12, the “But I will leave among you A humble and lowly people, And they will take refuge in the name of the LORD.”

We are not to think too highly of ourselves. The Lord showed the Jews during those forty years wandering in the desert, that He was in control and He would take care of them by letting them go hungry and then feeding them manna. We become humble when we acknowledge God is in control and release our selfish pride. We become humble when we recognize God knows what we need and that He will be the one to meets those needs.

1 Peter 3:8 says “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” As we turn from being selfish and self centered, we can start to develop compassion and sympathy toward our fellow man.

Jesus was the perfect example of being humble. Born of a virgin in a stable; he was the King of Kings riding in his royal procession on a donkey. He, who knew no sin, became sin so we could become His righteousness; though Jesus is God, He became nothing to die on a cross for us. We should model ourselves after Jesus, serving others and not just being served. Serving others will help us develop a humble heart.

1 Peter 5:6 tells us that the Lord will honor the Humble, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”

Psalms 69:32 also tells us that “The humble have seen it and are glad; You who seek God, let your heart revive.” So being humble will open our eyes to see what the Lord does in our lives. We may have a tendency to think that everything is of our own doing. Don’t let pride blind you to what God is doing around you.

Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

I rise and fall everyday with prayers thanking God for all that I have, from my family, to my health, to my family’s health, to my job, to pretty much everything He has lead me through in my life. It should be a great comfort to us, that humble and thankful praises from us are more pleasing to God than the most costly, pompous sacrifices.

Without God I am nothing; may all the Praise and Glory be to God. Amen


Thanks for checking in and God Bless >>John