Beware of Criticizing Others 6-17-2010

June 17th, 2010 by JDVaughn Leave a reply »

Beware of Criticizing Others

June 17 2010
Judge not, that you be not judged —Matthew 7:1

Jesus’ instructions with regard to judging others is very simply put; He says, “Don’t.” The average Christian is the most piercingly critical individual known. Criticism is one of the ordinary activities of people, but in the spiritual realm nothing is accomplished by it. The effect of criticism is the dividing up of the strengths of the one being criticized.

The Holy Spirit is the only one in the proper position to criticize, and He alone is able to show what is wrong without hurting and wounding. It is impossible to enter into fellowship with God when you are in a critical mood. Criticism serves to make you harsh, vindictive, and cruel, and leaves you with the soothing and flattering idea that you are somehow superior to others. Jesus says that as His disciple you should cultivate a temperament that is never critical. This will not happen quickly but must be developed over a span of time. You must constantly beware of anything that causes you to think of yourself as a superior person.

There is no escaping the penetrating search of my life by Jesus. If I see the little speck in your eye, it means that I have a plank of timber in my own (see Matthew 7:3-5 ).

Every wrong thing that I see in you, God finds in me. Every time I judge, I condemn myself (see Romans 2:17-24 ). Stop having a measuring stick for other people. There is always at least one more fact, which we know nothing about, in every person’s situation. The first thing God does is to give us a thorough spiritual cleaning. After that, there is no possibility of pride remaining in us.

I have never met a person I could despair of, or lose all hope for, after discerning what lies in me apart from the grace of God.

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Journal Entry for Today-JDV

June 17, 2010

I feel rather smug today, knowing that one of the gifts God has given me is the gift of forgiveness, and I suspect that is very close to not being judgmental and critical is it not? I mean who are those people that judge other people anyway? I’ve been in those churches and am I glad I am not part of their group.

And God says…”Remember your judgment of those other believers? The ones that are very strict and do not feel the freedom you feel in and from My Spirit? Or what about those in the church that close ranks and do not open their arms wide in acceptance, have you not criticized them?

You can know that when you and others close ranks around your own ideas of what is or is not the right “kind of believer” you are judging, and your only awareness of the right road comes from me. You cannot boast about your gift of acceptance or forgiveness if is Me inside of you. You can boast in Me, and when you boast of Me, you can love others.

When people close ranks it is because they are frightened. Perfect love casts out fear. Help Me cast out fear by loving others right where I direct you. Even if their arms are closed around themselves, you can wrap my arms around them.

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