Dear Ones,
Hope you wake to a peace-filled day. We had a beautiful sunny day yesterday and then rain in the night. Today I plan to bake, have Exercise class, Crafts, a visit from Ann, and later Bible Study.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
I’m sure we have all felt the negative words of fellow Christians against us at times and it can wound us. Likewise, we have all said things that were not kind about our brothers and sisters in Christ and judged them. Apostle Paul was the recipient of a lot of very negative words, but he learned how to handle the criticism without letting it get to him. I was reading in I Cor.4 and he tells the Corinthians that he is not concerned about what people say against him for it is the Lord who is the judge. In verses 3-5 he writes, “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or any human court. I do not even judge myself. I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore, do not pronounce judgement before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart.”
We are all guilty of judging and when we do that, we are setting ourselves up as better than others, which is spiritual pride. We may be led to confront others when they are sinning but judging them is up to the Lord. He knows the hearts of all, our motive and purposes, and all tht is hidden deep inside of us and will one day bring all these things out in the open. He doesn’t need our help making judgements ahead of time!!
Let us not waste our time and energy trying to get the approval of others, which can change in the flick of an eye. It is the Lord who will judge, and we can lay our hearts open before Him and ask Him to reveal what is in our hearts that needs correcting One of our parishioners told me that I wasn’t sophisticated enough as a Pastor’s wife. You can probably quickly bring up critical things that were said to you. We don’t have to react and defend ourselves but just bring it to the Lord and then rest in His love.
Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to show you when you are being judgmental and to repent. And when criticized by someone to quickly take it to Him to be the judge.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy
Thanks for sharing each and every day, you are a blessing,God Bless!Lowell