Time with Jesus - 25
Sept. 2013
Hi all,
Today’s meditation is on the topic of judging and
judgement. It’s not an easy topic to get to grips with. John Gill’s commentary
on this is very helpful and is found here-under mixed up with a few additional
comments:
Matthew 7:1 - Judge not, that ye be not judged.
This is not to be understood of any sort of judgment.
1.
It is not of
judgment in the civil courts of justice, by proper magistrates. This ought to
be made and passed, according to the nature of the case; 
a.
We need to bear in
mind that the courts have been established, in which we may all obtain justice.
But this justice can only be in terms of the laws of the land.
i. Whatever she may decide, our responsibility is not to
try and over-rule her. We are required to love her. It is not optional.
ii. She will have to live with the consequences, regardless
of deciding for or against abortion. Our task is to help her find her way
through her trauma. Don’t expect it to be easy!
2.
Also, it is not of
judgment in the churches of Christ, where offenders are to be called to an account,
examined, tried, and dealt with according to the rules of the Gospel. Jesus
instructed His people how to deal with sin within the church. In Matthew18 He
tells us. 15 "If another believer
sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person
listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with
you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or
three witnesses. 17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the
church. Then if he or she won't accept the
church's decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector. Mat
18:15-17 NLT
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i. The difficulty today is that if the church you are
attending dislikes someone or doesn’t agree with someone; that someone simply
leaves the church and goes to a different one.
ii. Churches need to communicate with previous churches
before receiving new members.
1.
A “release note”
from the previous church should be issued by an approved person.
3.
It is also not of
every private judgment, which one man may make upon another, without any
detriment to him;
Paul brings clarification on the question of lawsuits. He
writes in 1st Corinthians, 1 When
one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and
ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other
believers! 2 Don't you realize that someday we believers will judge
the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can't you decide even
these little things among yourselves? 3 Don't you realize that we will judge angels? So you
should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life.
4 If you have legal disputes about such matters, why go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? 5 I am saying this to shame you. Isn't there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these issues? 6 But instead, one believer sues another--right in front of unbelievers! 7 Even to have such lawsuits with one another is a defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong and cheat even your fellow believers. 1 Cor. 6:1-8 NLT
4 If you have legal disputes about such matters, why go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? 5 I am saying this to shame you. Isn't there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these issues? 6 But instead, one believer sues another--right in front of unbelievers! 7 Even to have such lawsuits with one another is a defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong and cheat even your fellow believers. 1 Cor. 6:1-8 NLT
Yes, it is hard. But the Christian life is not meant to
be easy. If we put others ahead of ourselves, we may well find they take
advantage of us. Does it really matter? Jesus experienced injustice of the
worst possible kind. He was “cheated” even out of His own life. His example is
not easy to follow. But it is not impossible. To allow someone to cheat you is
surely a supreme example of putting him/her ahead of you. That way we will be
obeying Jesus!
What then does Matthew 7:1 – “Judge not, that ye be not
judged” mean? John Gill states: “It means rash judgment; interpreting men's
words and deeds to the worst sense. Do not then, censure them severely. Do not
pass sentence on them, with respect to their eternal state and condition”.
Good advice was given by the famous Hillel who lived a
little before Christ's time: - "Do not judge
thy neighbour, (says he,) until thou comest into his place.'' It’s hard
to know whether or not to comment on his actions until you stand in his shoes.
Shalom,
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – 25 Sept. 2013
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
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These
devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright
protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it
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©
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY
LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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JUDGEMENT
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As a
young apprentice in England, I came across many tradesmen. Some were
excellent. There was one “old man” I’ll never forget. He must have been well
into his seventies and continued to work. He took care of the tool caravan.
He could chisel a channel in a piece of metal that you would think was cut by
a machine. He sharpened drills by hand just as well as it had come from the
manufacturers. He was from the “old school” of tradesmen who did just about
anything.
Another
man from those days was in his mid-thirties. But when you listened to him, he
must surely have been in his early nineties. No matter what anyone said or did,
he had been there and done it. He had become a “pathological liar”. He
believed everything he said.
Over
the past fifty odd years, I’ve found some honest and mature Christians upon
whom Phyllida and I can depend. As honest as the day is long and with deep
devotion to Jesus Christ, they were men and women from whom we could learn.
Not many, but they were there if you took the trouble to look. Sadly, we’ve
also came across others who were not trustworthy. Our problem has always been
trying to find a way to cope with what they have done and are doing.
The
difficulty we both face is how to deal with this from a Christian angle. How
do you handle lying, dishonest people who claim to be Christians? How do you
do this without “judging” them? The easy way is to be like the priest in
Jesus’ parable of the good Samaritan. Walk by on the other side of the street
and take no notice. We all have this ability. Stopping them and talking would
only “waste time we haven’t got in ministry”! But what about our responsibility
to the Lord and to our brothers and sisters in the Lord? If we say nothing
and do nothing, are we not allowing that person to continue harming other
Christians? Is that the right thing to do? Not at all. Paul comments as
follows; 1 It is actually reported
that there is sexual immorality among you and of a kind that is not tolerated
even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. 2 And you are
arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn?
Let him who has done this be removed from among you. 3 For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and
as if present, I have already pronounced
judgment on the one who did such a thing.1
Cor. 5:1-3 ESV How do we equate Paul’s statement with Jesus’ command,
“Judge not, that you be not judged”. The idea of judging the sin and not the
sinner is a convenient “cop out”. If Joe Soap has murdered someone, do we let
him go but say murder is a sin? You can’t do that. Justice must be done and
Joe Soap must be held responsible. In this case, to let him go because we
mustn’t judge is nonsense.
Jim & Phyllida
Strickland
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16
And this is the message I proclaim--that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone's secret life.
Romans 2:16 NLT
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"Judge not, that you be not judged.” Is what the master said.
And yet we keep on doing it; His words aren’t in our head.
Matthew Chapter seven verse one is where you see
The warning that the Master gave to folk like you and me.
In fact, we’re rather good at it; and here’s the reason why.
We think we’re so much better than all whom we espy!
“I am the Master’s favourite. He thinks
I am the best.”
But when it comes right down to it, I’m sorry friend, you jest.
For all the playful joking which we have all rehearsed.
Determines every attitude with which we have been cursed.
“You’re not as
bad as what you think” the Master said to me!
You’re worse and what is tragic you do not look and see!
I know what’s down inside you. You can’t hide it away.
I know what you are thinking each second of your day.
It isn’t edifying and if the others knew,
They’d shun you like a rabid plague and have nothing to do,
With anything you say to them. Their praise would be disdain
And nobody would speak to you until I come again!”
“I know You’re right Lord Jesus. I love to judge my peers.
Help me change my attitude and help me dry my tears.
Help me know that others are not as bad as me.
That I deserve Your judgement. Lord Jesus hear my plea.
Cleanse my inner motives. Disinfect my mind.
May I only see my sin. And never seek to find,
What’s happening to others. That isn’t my concern.
You are the only Righteous judge. From sin please help me turn.
I see your eyes of fire; Your bronzed and burnished feet.
You know what has been tucked away. The lying and deceit.
O Lord, please don’t expose me. Put all my sin away.
Come and cleanse my inner man. To You O Lord I pray.
Help me be converted in heart and mind and soul.
May the life of Jesus be my one and only goal.
Try me Lord and test me. Help me take off the mask
Is this too much to pray for? Is it too much to ask?
But Lord you are forgiving. Please come and set me free.
That everything I think and say will be controlled by Thee.
Jim Strickland
Written 25th Sept. 2012
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5 So don't judge anything before the appointed time. Wait
until the Lord returns. He will bring to light what is hidden in the dark. He
will show the real reasons why people do what they do. At that time each
person will receive praise from God.
1 Corinthians 4:5 NIrV
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22
"Also, the Father does not judge anyone. He
has given the Son the task of judging.
John 5:22 NIrV
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27 "He has also
given the Son authority to pass judgment because he is the Son of Man.
John 5:27 GW
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18
"And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: 'The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire,
and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
Revelation 2:18 ESV
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11 They say, "How can God know what we're doing? Does
the Most High God really know that much?"
Psalms 73:11 NIrV
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21 I kept a quiet patience while you did these things; you
thought I went along with your game. I'm calling you on the carpet, now,
laying your wickedness out in plain sight.
Psalms 50:21 MSG
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2 You can't keep your true self hidden forever; before
long you'll be exposed. You can't hide behind a religious mask forever;
sooner or later the mask will slip and your true face will be known.
Luke 12:2 MSG
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9 Lord, everything I really want is clearly known to you.
You always hear me when I sigh.
Psalms 38:9 NIrV
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2 Examine me, O LORD, and test me. Look closely into my
heart and mind.
Psalms 26:2 GW
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