Passing Judgment

I wonder what you did on your way home - or worse - during your last Sunday service or midweek meeting.

Did you go over in your mind all that was said, and did it fill you with great zeal to go on in your service for the Lord?

Or did your mind wander? Did you look around the room stewing because of ...

Who didn't do this or that?
Who wasn't there and why?

After all, you'd made the effort, so why couldn't they?

Why wasn't so and so on the rota for this or that?
Why can't they help in Sunday School, the Women's Meeting, or the Youth work?

After all, you're busy but you fit it in!

It's not up to you to know why others do or don't do these things.

Look at Romans 14 verse 10:

"You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat".

So don't worry yourself or get cross because of what others do or don't do in the church. That's their responsibility. But what you need to consider is your own position. We very easily criticise others but how often do we really look at ourselves?

Read on in Romans 14, verses 11 and 12:

"'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God'". So then, each of us will give an account of himself [herself] to God."

That means me then! - not Mrs Smith who doesn't pull her weight, or Mrs Jones who could get along to this meeting if she really tried.

No, I am the one who will have to give an account of my time, my ways, my life, to God on the Judgment Day.

Have I given my life over fully to the Lord?
Do I consider Him in everything I do?

Whether or not we like the bracelets that have W.W.J.D. on them, it is of course the right sentiment to consider before we do anything.

Do we start each day by thanking the Lord for the new day he has given us.
Do we ask for His guidance through it?

Or do we just hurry to get on with it because we've got so much to do ...
because Mrs Smith doesn't pull her weight ... and Mrs Jones ...
You're doing it again!

When we stand on that Day before our judge we can't plead that we've done more than someone else. God detests our pride. He wants to see total submission in our lives to Him. Our whole life, time and being set aside for His purposes.

Romans 14 continues in verse 13:

"Therefore [because we've got to give an account of our lives] let us stop passing judgment on one another."

What will your account be like?

Let's pray that we will wholeheartedly devote everything to the Lord while showing love to all our brothers and sisters - even Mrs Smith who doesn't pull her weight!!!

Andrea - Borough Green

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