One of the greatest relationship skills we can ever develop is to express mercy and integrity without hypocrisy. How are you doing at that? Sometimes we veer off on one side of the fence or the other. If we go too far on the side of excusing sins it is not really showing love, and if we shift to the prideful judgment side, we are paralyzed from loving. Why is it that so few of us get it right and strike the delicate balance spoken of in the Bible and exhibited by Jesus? Let’s look a bit more at the righteous judge and see if there are not some important lessons for us to learn from him.
Revering God as the ultimate, final, and perfect judge gets us on the way to growth here. The questions we ask ourselves today center around my trust of God. The key relational issue in judgment is really about trust. If I trust God’s judgment, It will be that much easier to walk that fine line, and let “MERCY triumph over Judgment ” (James 2:12-13). It just kind of crept up on me- this amazing statement of the apostle James. It can jump right out of the inspired page into our hearts. What a bold, dynamic, life-changing truth. Set in the context of demonstrating favoritism and of judging by mere appearance- here are his wonderful words: “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” (2:12-13)
Apparently James’ contemporaries struggled with judging as much as we do today. They were trying to play God and, predictably, failing miserably. Yet this beat goes on as we bow to the “image is everything” culture. Got money, fame, looks or special giftedness? Here take these cushy seats up front. For all the rest of you unattractive, no-talent poor folks grab a piece of the floor in the back there. (See James 2:1-11) No mercy- just judging. Are we guilty? Remember “mercy triumphs over judgment” Do we get it?
• Mercy offers more than judgment- Judging usually accompanies prejudice, bitterness, pride and hatred. Mercy is connected to grace, forgiving and hope. Judging usually delivers an unjust final verdict while mercy offers another chance and a fresh start. Which reflects heaven the best? Which one show we understand God’s Mercy?
• Fair judgments lead to mercy- When it comes to judging we always need to make sure we “judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24) and this should be only after we know the facts and consider the situation. This is not a harsh, snap judgment. It is a concerned response full of mercy intended to heal, help and deliver hope always allowing the righteous judge the final say.
• Mercy is what we need! – Where would any of us be without the tremendous mercy of God? Through mercy God gives us what we need- not what we deserve. It is all a part of the “law that gives freedom”. How selfish of us not to pass on this wonderful gift- and how shortsighted- for if we fail to pass it on we will fail to receive it.
1.) The More I Trust God as the Only Fair Judge, the Less Judgmental I’ll Be (Rom. 12:19) “I will repay, says the Lord”. This will quicken and deepen our forgiveness.
2.) The More I Trust God’s Timing, the Less Judgmental I’ll Be 1 Cor 4:5 “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.” Remember the wheat and the weeds that had to grow together until the right time! (Mt. 13:29-30)
3.) The More Confidently I Face the Day of Judgment, the Less Judgmental I’ll Be. (Mt. 16:27) “For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.” When we see ourselves properly under the Merciful Judgment of God we are more likely to strike balance in our own lives. (I Peter 1:17) “And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as “foreigners in the land.” When we live with eternity in mind, it is far easier to let Mercy triumph over Judgment.
Lord, help me TRUST you, the Righteous Judge, and may Mercy triumph over judgment in me today!
40 Days of Love – Day 27 (Judgement)
One of the greatest relationship skills we can ever develop is to express mercy and integrity without hypocrisy. How are you doing at that? Sometimes we veer off on one side of the fence or the other. If we go too far on the side of excusing sins it is not really showing love, and if we shift to the prideful judgment side, we are paralyzed from loving. Why is it that so few of us get it right and strike the delicate balance spoken of in the Bible and exhibited by Jesus? Let’s look a bit more at the righteous judge and see if there are not some important lessons for us to learn from him.
Revering God as the ultimate, final, and perfect judge gets us on the way to growth here. The questions we ask ourselves today center around my trust of God. The key relational issue in judgment is really about trust. If I trust God’s judgment, It will be that much easier to walk that fine line, and let “MERCY triumph over Judgment ” (James 2:12-13). It just kind of crept up on me- this amazing statement of the apostle James. It can jump right out of the inspired page into our hearts. What a bold, dynamic, life-changing truth. Set in the context of demonstrating favoritism and of judging by mere appearance- here are his wonderful words: “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” (2:12-13)
Apparently James’ contemporaries struggled with judging as much as we do today. They were trying to play God and, predictably, failing miserably. Yet this beat goes on as we bow to the “image is everything” culture. Got money, fame, looks or special giftedness? Here take these cushy seats up front. For all the rest of you unattractive, no-talent poor folks grab a piece of the floor in the back there. (See James 2:1-11) No mercy- just judging. Are we guilty? Remember “mercy triumphs over judgment” Do we get it?
• Mercy offers more than judgment- Judging usually accompanies prejudice, bitterness, pride and hatred. Mercy is connected to grace, forgiving and hope. Judging usually delivers an unjust final verdict while mercy offers another chance and a fresh start. Which reflects heaven the best? Which one show we understand God’s Mercy?
• Fair judgments lead to mercy- When it comes to judging we always need to make sure we “judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24) and this should be only after we know the facts and consider the situation. This is not a harsh, snap judgment. It is a concerned response full of mercy intended to heal, help and deliver hope always allowing the righteous judge the final say.
• Mercy is what we need! – Where would any of us be without the tremendous mercy of God? Through mercy God gives us what we need- not what we deserve. It is all a part of the “law that gives freedom”. How selfish of us not to pass on this wonderful gift- and how shortsighted- for if we fail to pass it on we will fail to receive it.
1.) The More I Trust God as the Only Fair Judge, the Less Judgmental I’ll Be (Rom. 12:19) “I will repay, says the Lord”. This will quicken and deepen our forgiveness.
2.) The More I Trust God’s Timing, the Less Judgmental I’ll Be 1 Cor 4:5 “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.” Remember the wheat and the weeds that had to grow together until the right time! (Mt. 13:29-30)
3.) The More Confidently I Face the Day of Judgment, the Less Judgmental I’ll Be. (Mt. 16:27) “For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.” When we see ourselves properly under the Merciful Judgment of God we are more likely to strike balance in our own lives. (I Peter 1:17) “And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as “foreigners in the land.” When we live with eternity in mind, it is far easier to let Mercy triumph over Judgment.
Lord, help me TRUST you, the Righteous Judge, and may Mercy triumph over judgment in me today!
____________Links___________
1.) Audio version of the book for todays devotions: http://CapitalVision.org/?page_id=292
2.) Church website for all kinds of helpful 40 Days of Love items (Memory Verses, Lessons, Sermons, Etc) : www.capitalvision.org
3.) To Purchase the book: http://www.amazon.com/Relationship-Principles-Jesus-Tom-Holladay/dp/0310283671/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1266891255&sr=8-1
4.) NEW Facebook Application for CVCC: http://apps.facebook.com/capitalvision