Hey Clawson Family!

Song: 

Scripture: 

Matthew 7:1-5 NLT

Judging Others

7 “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.

Devotion:

Judgemental people are stopping the church from working. People are hurt by this in so many ways.

Assumptions are made.Blame is assigned.Labels are given. Judgment is cast.

Your co-worker? Your friend? The person at church who never seems to engage? That stranger whose child is screaming in the grocery store? The neighbor who always seems grumpy and complains about everyone on your street? Maybe they are processing some kind of pain you don’t know about. 

Instead of following our first reaction to label and judge based on what a person is doing right now, let’s pray based on what they are probably facing right now. And if possible, why not offer a rare voice of encouragement or an unexpected act of kindness?

We may not be able to help the whole world be a better place today. But why not help the ones God places right in front of us? You can love and help, and pray for someone without knowing the full story. Help with an obvious small need. Make that phone call. Send that text. Leave an encouraging comment on social media. Judgment can end with us when gentleness flows through us. Together, let’s show someone a little less judgment and a lot more of Jesus today.

God, I pray for that person who came to my mind as I was reading today’s devotion. I pray for Your comfort and peace to be their closest companions right now. I pray You would encourage the hurting places of their heart. Help them to confidently believe You are still working on their behalf even when they can’t see it. When I’m tempted to make assumptions or cast judgment in any way, help me put on gentleness so they can see more of You through me. And remind me to do something kind for them. On my own, I may not know what they need, but You do. Help me know too. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Journal:  

In your journal today ask God to help you when you are tempted to judge others, to allow you to see others through his eyes. If you have dealt with judgement ask him to help you forgive. 

Training: 

This week when you are tempted to judge replace it with unconditional love. When you want to point out the negative look for the positive instead.