James 4:11-12 NLT
Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?
Do I walk away from conversations (gossip) that surrounds the shortcomings of another?
Do I engage in conversation with others about someone else that focuses on pointing the dirty end of the stick at them and leave that conversation with no plan to get together with them to find out how I can help?
“But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. God alone, who gave the law, is the judge.”
“Hold on John, are you one of those, don’t judge me types?”
No, no… I’m about what the word of God says. Period.
Unfortunately, we often engage in looking at others strictly through the law while looking at ourselves strictly through grace.
Quite frankly, those who are saved and those who will be saved are all covered by God’s grace, and we should never forget this.
We’ve moved from sinners saved by grace to the position of judge, building ourselves up and measuring our standing with God based on others’ shortcomings.
This will stifle our spiritual growth in a couple of different ways, but it will mainly stall our growth because we stop measuring ourselves against the Holy standard set forth by Jesus Christ, where we need to focus our thoughts and actions.
“Yes but what do we do with regards to the observed sin of others?, John…”
Great question, let’s see what God says.
Matthew 18:15-17 NLT
“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. 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. 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.
Before we go to anyone else about the sin we observe of someone else, we should gently address this with the offending person by ourselves.
This may end up being a blessing to the other person. They may not even be aware that this is happening. This could be all that is needed to bring this person back to the Devine joy of God.
If the first attempt is unsuccessful, go back with one or two other believers and gently attempt to help them see it again.
If this is unsuccessful, you bring it before the church.
And sometimes it calls us to leave this person in the world.
It is a prideful thought to think that our actions alone could be all that is necessary to change someone else.
The truth is that any life-saving change will only occur by the Hands of God. And when this revelation becomes clear to the person by God, this change will be real, and it will be permanent.
Heavenly Father, please give me the courage, strength, discernment, and gentle willingness to help those around me.
Please help me maintain my witness before others, making sure I have my life in line with Your will.
I thank You for the opportunity to serve, and I ask that You use my life in whatever way You deem necessary to bring others to Your saving grace.
In the Holy, loving and gracious name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen!! 🙏❤️
