If that be true, then how can I live without judging my brother, sister, neighbour, enemy, or a person of another faith? How often when trying to evangelise do we start from a place of prejudicial judgement? When the truth is we are just talking to people who have not received the revelation of God through Jesus and His Holy Spirit in their hearts yet! There but for the grace of God go I. Even so, He loves them to bits. What he wants us to do is “be” a witness for Him and His ways, and show His love, kindness, humility, gentleness, compassion, and the invitation to come unto Him (Matt 11:28). We have opportunity to share what has so graciously been given and revealed to us, by offering it to them. Freely we have received, now freely give. (Matt 10:8).
Jesus commanded his disciples in John 13-34:35,
“34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Can we come to the lost and the searching and even the misguided, and deceived with such love as this? In 2 Tim 2 it says
24 ‘And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.’
I guess the big question is, do I have what it takes to live this life without judging others? I’ll be frank. I don’t think I could in my own strength, but if Christ lives in me, surely I can do all things through Him who strengthens me! Apart from Him I can do nothing!
How is that going for me so far? I'm making progress. He is changing me and my understanding. I'm aware that the further God takes me, the more there is to do, but the easier it is to do it. The great thing is as I'm moving forward life is becoming more joyful, happy, fulfilled, and I hope more honouring to Him. It’s a journey, and we need to press on towards the goal that God in Christ has called us heavenward… Paraphrase Phil 3:14.
One of the things God has called my wife, Sue, and I to is training and application. So here goes:
Once I got the core of not letting myself go to judgement, I needed some help from Jesus, and he gave me a way to stand, and having stood to stand. If I am being attacked, abused, or see a situation that I instinctively leap to judgement about, I'm learning that in that instant I can resolve to not take offence, or go to judgement. In my mind, in an instant I say to myself “Water off a ducks back!” In other words, no matter how offensive or blatant someone’s behaviour may be towards meI chose not to let it into my heart (I guard my heart) therefore I do not need to be offended! Secondly, I will not judge them as I don’t know anything about them, and my understanding is flawed to the extent that Scripture tells me not rely on it! In this position several things are possible:-