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Scripture
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.
Romans 2:1
Reflection
The things you don’t like in others are oftentimes the characteristics that you also possess, the behaviors you also exhibit (or used to), and the same energy that you put into the world—maybe packaged differently, but it’s there. It’s like staring in the mirror and being repulsed by what you see, and then you strike out at the mirror.
We’re all hypocrites. We all lie. We judge but don’t want to be judged or condemned but cry out about injustice when we are condemned. We take use and abuse that which isn’t ours. Don’t believe so? How well have you been stewarding this land, the planet, water, animals, and the ecosystem? Yeah, like I said…
We’re selfish and can be self-centered and absorbed in all things self. Don’t think so? Listen to someone share their experiences, heartache, and struggles, and then listen to your voice form the words that shift the attention off of them and place it solely onto you, where you now dominate the conversation one-upping their adversity with your own experiences, all while thinking you’re helping them.
You’re not pointing them toward God. You aren’t centering the conversation and issues on God as the solution. You aren’t speaking the truth to the lies the enemy has convinced this person to believe. No, you have made it about you and why the person shouldn’t boo-hoo so much because you’ve experienced the same or worse, and so their story and experiences are not unique, and blah blah blah. We all do it. We’ve all done it.
We’re all flawed. There’s not one of us who doesn’t fall short of Jesus’s example, and heck, if we’re honest with ourselves, we fall short of living up to the examples of many of the great servants of our Heavenly Father.
Passing judgment leaves you wide open to being judged. So think twice before opening your mouth, spreading lies, and false prophesies, trying to fix someone else, and claiming to have the answers and know it all, and claiming to be blameless. Untwist that self-righteous knot that rests between your cheeks (and I will leave it to you to decide which cheeks I’m referring to). Stop trying to control the narrative, people, things, and circumstances.
You can’t even control yourself.
But if you want to focus your energies somewhere, focus on that. Control your mouth, the thoughts that you allow to form as words— understanding the power that lies in each word. Control your behavior. If you wouldn’t do it or say it in front of Jesus, then don’t do it or say it. Start there! That should keep you busy and less focused on meddling with other people.
Prayer
Father, keep me focused on doing right, speaking with love, and thinking of how best to serve You and Your Kingdom.
Hold my tongue before I speak ill of someone, pass judgment; and respond out of anger, fear, or envy. Place the mirror of Truth before me so that I always see my faults before I attempt to point out someone else’s. In Your Name I humbly pray. Amen.
And with that family, I pray that you are blessed, that you see and embrace your blessings, and that you are a blessing to others.
Love,
Natasha
Copyright 2011-2023. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com
Music: Climb by Shane Ivers; Quiescent In Time by Shane Ivers – https://www.silvermansound.com
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