Do not Judge

January 5, 2022
Midweek Study with Pastor Edith
Matthew 7:1-2

Recently I broke a tooth and it forced me to pay careful attention as to how I chew my food so as not to cause great pain until I can get it fixed. While I await my upcoming appointment, as this is not considered an emergency, I have stored up very soft foods and even baby food in an effort to keep up with my protein and veggies. All this to say, chewing consideration has become a focus for me. So, take a moment with me and chew on this passage of scripture and consider carefully how it might apply to your daily walk with The Lord. I can see many ways this can help me in mine.

Matthew 7:1-2; “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others you will be judged. And with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

One of the ways the teaching of this passage comes to our weekly worship services is in the reciting of The Lord’s Prayer. Think about how many times you’ve recited this prayer and how often you have considered the part where we say; “and forgive us our trespasses (some use debts, others use the word sins) as we forgive those who trespass against us (or our debtors, or those who have sinned against us). Notice how there is a measurement here – “and forgive us… AS we forgive…” Only two letters, yet there is a strong connection to the way we forgive and the way God forgives. Truly something to chew on this week .

I came across a poem by Tom Norvell, entitled If My Eyes Could See. I want to close this meditation with a few lines from it; “If my eyes could see the things His eyes see, I would be less distressed over what is happening today, and more hopeful about what will happen tomorrow. If my eyes could see the things His eyes see, my heart would be full, and my resolve would be strong. If my eyes could see like His eyes can see I would be more careful of who I condemn and less selective with who I forgive. I would ignore more offenses, and lower my defenses… If my eyes could see as His eyes can see, I could see others the way He looks at me, and then I could live my life like He intends it to be.”

AMEN