The Desire To Be Fully Known
The inspiration for this blog came following a feeling of judgement over my lack of fully thinking a couple of small and relatively insignificant instances through.
In this moment, my heart was hurt as the 1% was honed in on, with the 99% missed, and I winced at what I felt was an unfair, inappropriate and unnecessary assessment.
As I voiced my discomfort, I was told I needed to have thicker skin, a trait which is indeed biblical, as the need for resilience and forgiveness is essential in this harsh world.
Looking deeper, I discovered that wisdom yields patience and it is to one's glory to overlook an offence (Proverbs 19:11), highlighting the strength in not reacting impulsively to perceived slights.
In my desire to be fully known, I realised that we can only be known by God and not man, and this revelation is an important part of our growth and ability to shrug of the opinions of others.
Foucusing on Ourselves, Not Others
This experience showed me how fruitless it is when I myself focus on the faults of others, and seek rather, to focus on raising my own standards, turning my attention inwards.
We must consider why we look at the speck of sawdust in our brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in our own eye, meaning that we have much bigger issues than our brother.
We must first take the plank out of our own eye, and then we will see clearly to remove the speck from our brother's eye. (Matthew 7:3)
Perhaps it is easier to focus on the failures of others as opposed to our own, as this requires us to confront difficult truths that we are perhaps not ready to deal with.
Instead of judging, we must all attend to ourselves first and then help our brother, transforming our judgement into acts of love, compassion and tenderness.
Judging In Haste
Unaware of the whole picture, it is easy to make hasty judgements, whereas righteous judgment can only be attained when one is in possession of the full facts.
The phrase walk a mile in someone else's shoes is meant for exactly this, as it is not possible for another person to have a full understanding of another without their likewise full experience.
In the same way we judge others, we will be judged, and with the measure we use, it will be measured to us (Matthew 7:1-2), we must therefore take care to judge with discernment.
We are also told not to give dogs what is sacred and not to throw our pearls to pigs, for if we do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear us to pieces. (Matthew 7:6)
We are to be careful with whom we share what is precious, because in people's lack of understanding, that which we have so lovingly built, can be easily torn down if we are not wise.
Righteous Judgment
Jesus himself was grossly misjudged, treated unfairly and brutally killed, an extreme example which reminds us of the limitations of man's capacity to fully understand a divine commission.
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to Him who judges justly. (1 Peter 2:23)
Jesus' actions provide a model for not responding in kind to attacks and withstanding the storm through his knowledge of God's ability to judge righteously.
We are called to develop thick skin by enduring hardships and opposition, whilst also maintaining a tender-hearted nature, weeping with others and expressing deep concern for them.
Developing a thick skin does not mean hardening our heart, which leads to callousness and a loss of empathy, but rather guarding our heart and trusting in God, goodness and grace.
Edifying, Encouraging & Excelling
Instead of tearing down, let us us rather encourage one another and build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11), exercising patient understanding and helping one another to grow in Christ.
Let us support one another through loving and gentle correction, reserved only for matters of sin and morality, where a person does not have the self-awareness to correct themselves.
It is not possible for one who is not walking the same path as another to have any level of understanding of what is involved, and therefore, any judgment levied will be out of kilter.
When it comes to rescue, few people are able to carry the extreme weight of responsibility involved, where mistakes equals serious injury or death and where deep sacrifice is essential.
Only those who are walking in the anointing, having been personally called and laying down their life in service to the Lord, have the right to pass judgment.
The Mantle of Responsiblity
Those who have been anointed and appointed by God with a mantle of responsibility, who are walking their destiny out, are fully conversant and compliant in what is required of them.
They were forged in the fire with nerves of steel, a heart of gold and the faith that commands mountains to move through obedience and relentless inspired action.
They KNOW what needs to be done and they do it, to the best of their ability, and whilst perfection is the goal, grace is the covering to a heart that is willing.
We must all turn our hands to our own commission and must not stand in the way of those who have given themselves over in service to the Lord and are bearing good fruit.
Those who don't know their commission must ask and it will be given to them; seek and they will find; knock and the door will be opened to them. (Matthew 7:7)
Laying Our Lives Down In Service
The world needs people to lay down their lives, to raise the bar in humility and to pour themselves out in service to God.
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)
Let us trust in the LORD with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding; in all our ways submit to Him, and He will make our paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
We were bought at a price and therefore are to honour God with our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:20), whatever we do, we are to do it all for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)
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