Welcome to this Abide Meditation.
Do you ever find
yourself judging others out loud or internally criticising their choices and
deciding that they don't measure up.
It can be really
tempting to just dismiss those we disagree with. Pastor Rick Warren reminds us that
God alone is a truly just and wise judge. You should never use your own choices
as the standard by which to judge someone else. When the apostle Paul heard
that some in Corinth were judging him and suggesting that he wasn't as good as
they were he refused to play their comparison game here's how he responded.
Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some
of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one
another and compare themselves with one another they are without understanding.
It’s so easy to fall
into self-righteous judgmentalism. It feels so good to feel superior. But God
invites us to remember that we’ve all been saved by grace. We don’t know
anyone’s whole story or motivations and we don't even know what our own blind
spots might be. Ask God to help you have grace for others just as God has given
grace to you.
Pride can make you quick to judge others. Ask God to give
you a spirit of humility grace and wisdom. Pray with me gracious God I confess
it feels so good to look at other people and judge that I’m better than they
are. I need your help to change I want to offer others the same grace you’ve
given me. So change my keep me from
playing the comparison game, keep me from prime in the name of your son Jesus I
pray.
Take a deep cleansing
breath feel it filling up your chest and your belly it's slowly exhale pushing
it out as you breathe Let go pride, let go of insecurity breathe in God’s grace
breathe out is sufficient, God’s grace is sufficient.
If you’ve been
relying on your own goodness instead of Christ goodness that's sin. If you’ve
been cultivating a judgement or spirit that's sin. If pride has kept you from
listening to others really hearing them that’s sin confess your sins to the
Lord.
God says my grace is
sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness embrace your
weakness and find that Christ’s righteousness is all you need God’s grace is
never ending. Listen to second Corinthians chapter 10 verse 12 in the English
standard version “Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some
of those who are commending themselves but when they measure themselves by one
another and compare themselves with one another they are without understanding.”
As I read that again listen for a word or phrase that stands out to you “Not
that we dare to classified or compare ourselves with some of those who are
commending themselves, but when they
measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another. They
are without understanding what did you notice reflect on prayerfully.
Comparison is the thief of joy. Even if in the comparison
you find yourself coming out on top. When have you experienced that.
Listen to second
Corinthians chapter 10 verse 12 in the amplified Bible. We do not have the
audacity to put ourselves in the same class or compare ourselves with some who
supplied testimonials to commend themselves. When they measure themselves by
themselves and compare themselves with themselves they lack wisdom and behave
like fools. Wisdom means not acting as if you yourself are the standard of
righteousness. What are some specific ways you can cultivate this kind of wisdom?
God doesn’t ask you
to refrain from making judgement calls. It's possible to know right from wrong,
and part of growing in grace is growing in your ability to discern good from
evil. But that wisdom ought to lead to humility pride how can you practise
discernment without judgmentalism.
Ask God to give you discernment and love.
Listen to 2 Corinthians 10:12 again in the English standard
version “Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those
who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another
and compare themselves with one another they are without understanding. What
would Jesus the only perfect standard the only truly good human do if someone
asked him to compare himself to another person and condemn them. John’s gospel
shows us put yourself in the scene at dawn Jesus appeared again in the temple
courts or all the people gathered around him he sat down to teach them.
The teachers of the
law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery they made her stand
before the group and said to Jesus “Teacher this woman was caught in the act of
adultery in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women now what do you say?”
They were using this
question as a trap in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent
down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on
questioning him he straightened up and said to them let anyone of you who is
without sin be the first to throw a stone at her. Again he stooped down and wrote
on the ground.
At this those who
heard began to go away one at a time the older ones first until only Jesus was
left but the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her
woman “where are they as no one condemned you” “no one Sir” she said. Neither
do I condemn you Jesus declared go now and leave your life of sin.
Pray with me heavenly
father You alone are righteous judge. I confess my own tendency to criticise
and dismiss others instead of extending grace to them instead of taking the
time to truly listen to them help me to remember that I’m not the standard
Jesus is the standard and it’s only through his death and resurrection that I
have been made righteous help me to give grace to others judgement in Jesus
name I pray Amen
Isn’t it freeing to know that you aren’t the final arbiter
of what is right and wrong today practise listening with grace rather than
jumping to judgement until next time may you meditate and abide in Christ.
