Choosing to Manifest the Mercy of the Father

Matthew 7:2

For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

One of the biggest flaws in humanity is the desire to proclaim judgement on one another.  It is part of our human nature.  When you combine the desire to proclaim judgement on others with the fact that we are all so tragically flawed by sin, the opportunity for judging others is readily and abundantly available.  This has led us as a society to be cruelly judgmental of all the people that we find in our lives.

Jesus knew that we would struggle in this area.  Thus He provided us with a stern warning about judging others.  He wanted us to recognize that we are not qualified to judge, only He is.  Even more so, He wanted us to understand that in judging others we put ourselves in a position to pay an enormous price.

In addition to the potential of ruining other people's lives because of our judgmental nature, we also risk the following for ourselves:

• If we practice a critical spirit, we are likely to steal our own joy and peace.
• If we assume God's authority to judge, we place ourselves under greater scrutiny.
• If we include malice in our judgement, we pollute our own hearts.
• If we plant seeds of unforgiveness and condemnation, we become vulnerable to hatred.

Almighty God, through the sacrifice of His Son, chose to see us all as holy and blameless.  He gives us the freedom to choose to see others as He sees them.  He calls us to:

• Forgive others as we let Christ's peace rule in our hearts.
• Comfort others as we manifest the mercy of the Father.
• Honor others above ourselves as we imitate the humility of Our Savior.
• Encourage others as we share in the treasures of Jesus Christ.
• Love others as we let the perfect love of God flow through us.

Let us choose to live in the Spirit of Jesus Christ and not in the spirit of the world.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You that our sins have been forgiven and washed away by the sacrificial blood of Your Son.  We praise You for the mercy that You have extended to us through Your Son.  We pray that You will shield us from the desire to judge others when You have kept judgment for Yourself.  May we not seek to find sin in the lives of others, but only seek to help others find the forgiveness that is in the name of Jesus.  May we all live our lives as vessels of Your perfect love and forgiveness.  We ask all these things in the name of the Judge of the Living and the Dead, Jesus Christ.