I never thought I was a judgemental person until I was judged. It seemingly came out of nowhere. Making an innocent statement one minute, I was corrected and critiqued the next. And boy, did it sting. The person giving the judgement did not even realize it had happened. After all, it was just an opinion. Or was it?
How many times do we offer “sage” advice that sounds good to us but not to the person receiving it? How many times does it come across as the torturous clanging cymbal? (1 Corinthians 13:1). Thinking we are helping, what if, in fact, we are sprinkling salt into a wound, or unknowingly placing condemnation—however big or small—on another soul.
In James 1:19 nkjv, the Bible tells us we should be “…swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath (anger).” What if that verse doesn’t just apply to getting angry? What if the swift to hear and slow to speak part applies to every conversation and every interaction?
Early on, as a mom, I watched with care everything that happened to my children. It wasn’t long, however, before I took on the task of trying to carry their burdens for them, fixing everything that wasn’t right.
That same mindset soon began to spill over into my relationship with others. Instead of weeping with someone who was in the middle of heartbreak as the Bible tells us to do in Romans 12:15, I would be “…wise in your (my) own opinion,” (Romans 12:16). Offering up words that sounded right, I probably did more harm than good.
I have also found myself slamming the door of judgement on someone when the thought, Oh, I wouldn’t do that, takes root in my heart. At that moment, by sticking my spiritual nose up in the air, I have just made the mental declaration that I am superior to another. Have you ever found yourself sitting in that same seat with me?
Oh, how subtle sin is! We don’t realize we are drowning in its sticky mire until what we have given to others, happens to us! We find ourselves in its trap before we even know there is one. Left to ourselves, we exist in the awful Catch-22 of doing what we don’t want to do, and not doing what we know we should.
The Apostle Paul says it well in Romans 7:22-24.
“Truly, deep within my true identity, I love to do what pleases God. But I discern another power operating in my humanity, waging a war against the moral principles of my conscience and bringing me into captivity as a prisoner to the “law” of sin—this unwelcome intruder in my humanity. What an agonizing situation I am in! So who has the power to rescue this miserable man from the unwelcome intruder of sin and death?” (tpt)
- We can try to do everything in our power to change our hearts.
- We can try to bend our wills in seventy different directions to make ourselves do what is right. But the fantastic good news is that we are utterly powerless to do that. Changing ourselves is NOT in our wheelhouse. Jesus is the only one who can overcome our hearts.
And when He does, His Peace, like soothing salve, begins to soften the rough places that live within. By His Holy Spirit, He transforms our hearts, causing us to see others through His eyes. And when that happens, compassion and mercy begins to flow to those who have judged us and to those we have judged. For:
“Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
James 2:13b nkjv
Heavenly Father, please save us from ourselves. Please wrap our hearts in humility and cause us to surrender to You. For You are our hope. Only You are our Salvation. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.
Kimberly
Brilliant and anointed! So beautifully written and deeply challenging!