Bible ABC's - Judges

Are you 'dying' to judge someone?  How about to judge yourself?  Ha, ha...if you don't want anyone to judge you, then judge yourself.  

Why judge and what is the "yardstick" for that judging?  

God's Word, which the psalmist David says is, "more precious than...pure gold, sweeter than honey...and warns...and when kept, brings great reward"  (Psalm 19:9-11 NIV), is that quality standard or 'mirror' by which to regard and judge ourselves.

When you look into such a 'mirror', do not forget what you have seen? Anything that is not right, rectify.  God's Word judges the conduct and makes the keeper thereof, wise; this for one's own good and benefit.

Second Corinthians 10:5 (NIV) enlightens us to a procedure for this kind of judging.  In addition, it relates to the previous Bible ABC, that is, that God's Word helps to form our minds.  So this has to do with what our minds are occupied.  Here's how that Scripture reads,

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

Combine that with the verse about the things to think about: true, lovely, of good report, etc  (Philippians 4:8).

Ask yourself, "Do I do those things?"

Easier said than done, I know!  So thankful for the Holy Spirit of God indwelling, Who helps to convict and helps us to deal with those unprofitable habits, thoughts and ways we often cling to.

First, judge away the arguments, pretension, then all those thoughts that do not measure up to God's Word and what is true, lovely, etc; take them captive.  Cut them off!  Put them to death (Colossians 3:5 NIV)!  When another of those unlovely thoughts scurries across your mind: catch it; cut it off, put it to death.  Judge it yourself and others will be less likely to help you do the judging.  

Most importantly, our wonderful and loving Heavenly Father won't have to rebuke those of us who are His followers.  We do not want to disappoint Him.

Another instruction from the book of James and chapter 5, verse 16 (NIV) says to...

"Confess your faults, or sins, to each other..."

If we do that, then again, other's will be less likely to accuse us.

That same verse gives motivation for the confession;

"...and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

Do we not wish to have powerful and effective prayers?  Do we want to have healing?  Judge yourself and make your confessions to the Lord for He comforts us, with His Word,

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9 NIV).

In the end, when our minds have been trained towards the proclivity of good and thinking wholesome thoughts by the judgments we have imposed upon ourselves,  we will see a clearer, cleaner image in our 'mirror' reflections.  That's wise wisdom won.

As the writer of Romans commended them for, we too may have the same observations and "judgment" pronounced upon us by others,

"...you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another..." (Romans 15:14 NIV).

What a great eulogy and epitaph that would make!

                                                             ~ERC  July 2019~