Tag: judgmental
Clash of the world-views!
Scripture reading for April 15: John 7
“The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this Man!” The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in Him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” Nicodemus, who had gone to Him before, and who was one of them, said, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”” John 7:45-52
Many of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day were a proud and judgmental bunch. They were jealous of Jesus and the crowds that followed Him. They plotted to trap Him and kill him. They mocked the guards that were in awe of Jesus’ teaching. They resented that He was not part of their click. They accused any of their own number who questioned their accusations as being deceived by Him. They accused the crowds of being under a curse. When our world view sees Jesus as a threat and His followers as deceived, what we accuse others of is most often what we are doing ourselves. We are deceived and under a curse from the evil one. Our soul is in danger and we blame Jesus and His followers!
This controversy is alive and well in our time and culture. Those that are under deception mock Jesus and seek to block Him and His Word from their lives. And if this is not sufficient, they seek to remove His influence from our culture and government, making un-godly laws and waging warfare against God and His people. If anyone disagrees or stands up for Jesus, they are mocked, persecuted and cancelled. If only they would listen to Jesus and consider His Word. If they could look in the mirror and see their own spirit of murder and lies, they could repent and escape the curse of true deception and eternal hell.
Have you experienced some of the same treatment in our time and culture? What are some ways that you have avoided deception and judging those who accuse or mistreat Christians and Jews? Do you take time to give those who oppose you a hearing and seek to peaceable share the Good News?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your amazing patience with me in my early years of opposition to You and Your people. Help me today to love my enemies and do good to those who would oppose me. Give me grace to love them and pray for their salvation. Amen.
One perfect in knowledge?
Scripture reading for June 1st: Job 35-37
“I get my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe justice to my Maker. Be assured that my words are not false; one perfect in knowledge is with you.” Job 36:3-4
Have you ever been around a person who thinks he knows everything? For every question, he has an answer and he even has information you did not ask for. Elihu boasted of his great wisdom and did give some good information. But Elihu was not much different from Job’s other three friends and he claimed to know God perfectly. (Job 36:4)
Elihu stated that God commanded sinners to repent and that if they listened, they would spend the rest of their days in prosperity. (Job 36:11) This argument had already been hashed around by Job and he concluded that this was not always the case. Sometimes the wicked prosper and nothing seems to touch them here on earth. (Job 21:7-14) We cannot always presume that our life on earth has to be a certain way based on our behavior. God may allow other things to work out His purposes in our life, but they will all be for our good if we love him. (Romans 8:28)
Elihu also stated that our sin has no effect on God. (Job 35:6) Sin provokes His anger and all sin is against God. God’s revelation of His Law and the consequences of sin show God’s concern. Of course, Job was before the Law but God never changes and His character is the same then as now!
Elihu accused Job of preferring evil to affliction. (Job 36:21) This also was presumptuous on Elihu’s part. When we think that we are perfect in knowledge, we can easily become judgmental and critical of others. Knowledge puffs us up, but love builds us up! (1st Corinthians 8:1b) We must not judge others by what we see or think we know. There is often much more than meets our eye!
God alone has perfect knowledge! He has given His followers the Holy Spirit as a helper to bring small portions of His perfect knowledge to us as we have need. He can give us understanding in all situations and show us when to speak and when to remain silent. As we walk with the Holy Spirit, we can ask Him for knowledge and wisdom to effectively minister to those who are hurting.