John 13: 34
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another:
just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”
We must realize and remember that forgiveness is about
forgiving the person, it’s not about their actions.
When we continue to reflect on how wrong someone acted
toward us…
Our thoughts and our own rational, act as a barrier between
our hearts and God’s heavenly compassion.
And today’s scripture verse tells us that God forgives us
because he loves us, not because our actions are ever worthy of forgiveness.
He forgives us because he values restored relationship with
us over our sins.
He forgives us because he is filled with love for us, not
because our acts of confession demand forgiveness from him…
But many people use Jesus’ command not to judge others in
complete disregard of its context. Like Jesus’ statement in Matthew 7:1; “Judge
not, that you be not judged.
Many people use this verse in an attempt to silence their
critics, and interpret this verse as, “You don’t have the right to tell me I’m
wrong.”
When Jesus said not to judge others, He did not mean that no
one can identify sin for what it is… based on God’s definition of sin.
In fact, in John 7: 24 Jesus gives a direct command to judge:
Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”
We must realize that there is the right type of judgment
versus the wrong type.
Superficial judgment is wrong…
Hypo-critical judgment is wrong.
Harsh, unforgiving judgment is wrong.
Self-righteous judgment is wrong…
We as believers are warned against judging others unfairly
or unrighteously...
But Jesus tells us to: “judge with right judgment”
Right as based on His righteousness…
For love to be truly loving, there must be judgment.
If there is no judgment, then there is no hope for a slave,
a rape victim, a child who has been abused, or people who have been slandered
or robbed or had their dignity stolen. You see…
Love and judgement go hand in hand…
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