Thoughts for another day

February 1, 2012

Today's verse: Rom. 2:1. Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

There're some sins which seem so innocuous when we commit them, that we hardly realize we're sinning.  Among these are the sins of omission for example like let's say we're in a position to help but turn the other way round when asked for it; as we suppose the rich man did in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Lk. 16:19ff.  And today, we have in our Scripture, the warning of a great sin which is dangerous for our souls, which is, the sin of judgment. 

We hardly realize we're committing this sin when we do, and even if we do, we don't bother for we feel, how can we hurt the person we're judging?  But by judging others we're destroying their character which is perhaps more dangerous than physically hurting them.  Judging others brings upon us the same measure of judgment from God and let me tell you, even Jesus Christ to whom has been given the authority for all judgment (Jn. 5:22) doesn't judge( Jn. 8:15).  So if God Himself doesn't judge us, who're we to judge anyone.  But aren't we all guilty of this sin, me first, that too? 

At some time or other we pass judgment on others thinking we're too righteous and fit to do that.  It reminds me of that episode where they bring a woman 'caught in the very act of adultery' (Jn. 8:3ff) and present her before the Lord, asking for His opinion, in a way seeking to trap Him at something they could accuse Him of, later.  But Jesus turns the tables on them and puts them a poser that indeed they're forced to look internally at their own dirty souls before condemning the woman.  After they leave one by one, beginning with the oldest, Jesus tells the woman that He too doesn't condemn her, mind you, He was the only One who could do that for He had no sin in Him.  Today the poser that Jesus gave them is also for us: Go judge anyone only if you have no sin in you!  I tell you, I must look seriously at this very stringent punishment reserved for the 'judges' of men and strive to avoid judging completely, lest I too be judged, by the same gauge, that I did, others.