“Judge not, lest ye be judged.”
I have flung this verse out many times at people in the past, and have had it thrown right back at me on numerous occasions. But I only had half of the knowledge of a Biblical truth.
When it comes to judging others, I believe we tend to err on one side, or the other. We can place judgement on people, or we don’t judge anyone at all.
It is wrong to place a judgement on a person. Why they said, or did something. We do not know a person’s heart. ‘How a man thinks in his heart so is he.” For example, to say, “They will always be a troublemaker!” That is a wrong judgement, we don’t know what’s going to happen to them in the future. Only God knows that.
But the Bible also teaches us that as Christians we are called to judge each other’s fruit. The Apostle Paul states that very clearly in his first letter to the Corinthian Church. Always making sure it is coming from a spirit of love (not spite, revenge, jealously or maliciously), but out of God’s kind of love/concern for one another.
I have been corrected many times over the years by brothers and sisters in Christ.
In the beginning, I would get very offended because deep down I knew they were speaking truth, and yes, my pride was stung in the gentle rebukes.
But, when I began reading the Bible and earnestly seeking intimacy with Jesus through His word, my heart began to soften to the things of God.
I wanted to change, and I wanted the Holy Spirit to lead me, more and more.
So then, when correction came I was more open to receive. At the same time I did allow the Holy Spirit to discern the rebukes as not all were not lining up to the word of God. “Even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light.” Not all are hearing the voice of God.
Like the time a professing Christian scheduled a lunch meeting with me and said that “God would allow a sickness to come upon me to teach me something, and I should receive it from God.”
Well, I know the truth in God’s word, and as a born again child of God it is my heritage to be in health, just as my soul propers. I quickly rejected that weapon trying to form against me so that it would not prosper, and I condemned that tongue rising against me in judgment. (Isaiah 54:17, 3 John 2, Proverbs 18:21 NKJV)
Daily we are called to judge situations, words spoken at us, and our own words spoken about ourselves and others.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, throughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Tim. 3:16-17 NKJV
What is a good work? Well, judging a situation and telling someone the truth in love is a type of good work.
I recall several years ago when I was walking around our subdivision I met a new neighbor.
As we visited together, this woman revealed that she was a Christian and that she had an inoperable brain tumor.
Right away I told her, “I’m sad you are going through this, but it’s a piece of cake for Jesus! He want’s you well.”
She smiled and skipping right past my word of encouragement she began telling me about a book she wrote telling her story. She proceeded to go into great detail about all the pain/trials she had suffered.
Now, I felt compassion for her, but at the same time an uneasiness was stirring in my spirit. The Holy Spirit in me was judging the fruit of her heart.
So, in my heart I started praying, “What’s going on here Lord, something’s not right.”
Then she told me, “I believe the Lord wants me to have cancer so I can help other’s who are going through it. I get emails and calls from all over from people with cancer who are glad they are not alone and felt comfort reading about my struggles in the book.”
(Readers, let me just stop here for a minute, the Lord can teach us without making us sick. Jesus taught everywhere he went and never used sickness to illustrate a lesson. In truth He did the opposite, “… God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”)
Well, I know the Lord was inspiring me, because with such compassion I leaned forward and gently tried to persuade her otherwise.
“Sister, you are embracing something that Jesus has already dealt with on the cross. This voice you are hearing telling you that God wants you to suffer this sickness is a spirit of pride. The word of God says that ‘by His stripes we were healed, and He bore our sicknesses, and also that God is no respecter of persons.’
Pride is lifting you above the name of Jesus, when the word of God declares that everything must bow to the name of Jesus. The name which is above every name, that includes cancer. This is not your cross to bear, Jesus already bore it for you.”
But, she smiled again, shook her head slowly and said, “Well, I believe God is allowing this to happen to me for the benefit of others.”
I replied, “So, God loves other’s more than you? He is willing to sacrifice your right to good health to help others? You have children, right?”
She nodded, “Yes.”
“Okay then which one would you choose to have cancer?”
“None of them.”
“Of course you wouldn’t. We have laws against parents who cause or even allow their children to be harmed or make them sick, yet that is what you are saying about our Heavenly Father. That He is allowing you to be sick.
Again, it has nothing to do with you, but everything to do with Jesus and what He has done for you.”
I continued on with so much compassion I could hardly get the words out, “No sister, it is the thief who is stealing the word from you in order to kill, or at the very least destroy your life.
You have free will to believe what you want, but God has a good plan for your life and if you think cancer is good, then you are deceived. It would be even more encouraging and make a much better testimony to the glory of God if you would allow Jesus to heal you of this demonic sickness that doctors have no hope for.”
Sadly, I don’t know if she ever considered what I believe the Lord was speaking to her, the truth.
The devil was placing a judgment of death on her and she was accepting that sentence of condemnation, while at the same time Jesus is saying, “the words that I speak to you, they are sprit and they are life.” John 6:63
“Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels?
How much more, things that pertain to this life?” 1 Cor. 6:2-3
(Matt: 7:1-3, 8:17, Proverbs 23:7, Philippians 2:10-11) All scripture taken from the NKJV.
Contact Brenda Groves at: bkgroves1996@yahoo.com
