Who's Your Judge?

May 29th, 2010

I have not written in far too long and sometimes I think it's just a darn shame to not have some sort of record of the tough lessons learned, because y'know what? Tough lessons can be even tougher to learn a second time! My experience has been that if it can at all be laid out upon the table, the sooner that happens the better - as to take a step towards and for God with hopeful desperation for the purification that comes only from a relationship with Him.

And oh, how I cannot explain exactly how much I need that purification! Through the conviction that only the Holy Spirit brings to our hearts, I became aware recently that I have a major problem with judging others...I know! Yuck! Who am I to be the judge of another?

So when I realized I was having issues (needless to say, haha), I decided the best idea to solve them would be to first check and see what the Word of God had to say about all of this. These things may seem obvious to some, but here's what I found out - and it is good:

1 :: GOD IS JUDGE :: Not me.

And the heavens declare His righteousness,
For God Himself is judge. Selah.

Psalm 50:6

...I will execute judgments - I am the LORD.

Exodus 12:12b

2 :: A JUDGE GIVES THE LAW :: Therefore, I am not a judge!

There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?

James 4:12

3 :: IT IS THE LAW IN OUR HEARTS GIVEN BY GOD TO NOT JUDGE :: Therefore, when I judge, I am putting myself above the law of God. not good...ng.

Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it.

James 4:11

4 :: HIS JUDGMENT IS JOYOUS & TRUE :: Mine is condemning and unfair. How can one sinner judge another?

Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy before the LORD, for He is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness and the people with equity.

Psalm 98:9

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? 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? 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.

Matthew 7:3-5

5 :: I DON'T HAVE TO BE JUDGE BECAUSE IT'S NOT MY JOB :: The Word judges and I have freedom from the responsibility.

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

What have I learned from all of this? I am not a judge and I don't give the law. God has set a law in my heart to not judge my brothers and sisters, and when I do - I am putting myself above His law. When I judge, I don't even do a good job anyway, for I don't know the whole truth nor do I have the ability to judge fairly. After all that, I don't even have to be a judge nor do I want to - I am free to love! I love that.