Here Comes the Judge!

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you towards repentance? Romans 2:1-4

The Beth Moore study this morning was on judging others. I could barely get through the verses before the Lord was revealing ways in which I pass judgment on others. She outlined six reasons we must not judge others based on the above verses.

1. When we judge others, we cause God to be harder on us.
2. We do many of the same things we condemn in others.
3. We do not know the whole truth.
4. We are mere humans (I can hear the hissing of air as my ego is rapidly deflating)
5. When we judge others, we are judging God.
6. God's judgment is always righteous. Ours is tainted by the flesh.

I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for His mercy is great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men. 2 Samuel 24:14

That verse really hit deep; David would rather let the Lord deal with him than man. I judge to make myself feel or look better; man has a natural insecurity of his self-worth. I love this quote by Henry Longfellow:
"Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad."

Only God knows all of the facts surrounding a person. I have prayed this morning that the Holy Spirit would make me aware of the words that I speak.

It's going to be a quiet day--I think.