Scripture About Judging Confusion

When we look at Scripture about judging, it is vital that we don’t get confused between judging and correcting our brothers or sisters. There is a big difference between the Scriptures on judging and the Scriptures about correction.

I think this has been a huge area that the Body of Christ has gotten confused about. The following Scripture on judging,”Judge not lest you be judged”, refers to being careful not to condemn a person for a particular behavior or their motivation.

It does not mean that we don’t have a duty to correct in love when we see someone acting in an unloving way. Do we have the responsibility of correcting others?

I would like to suggest that I would be doing my brother or sister a favor by offering a correction. Is the following a Scripture about judging?

Galatians 6:1 says, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” Judging or correcting?

I love the advice given in this scripture, “in a spirit of gentleness”. Let’s remember this important key.

Correcting others can be a very tricky thing. It is, however, a very important skill to be learned and a necessary tool for the Body of Christ. I believe this is just about the single most epic failure of the church.

This touchy-feely, can’t-hurt-anyone’s-feelings attitude in the church is corrupting us all.  If the church can’t correct, who can? We need someone to help us see things we aren’t seeing!

I realize, receiving correction can be a bit hard at times.  We all think we are right 99% of the time. The truth is we are so in need of loving correction. Can we learn to accept correction?  Can we learn to correct in love?

Is the following Scripture about judging or correcting? 2 Timothy 4:2 says, “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”

Again, we find this charge to correct, but as in the earlier scripture, we are admonished to do it in patience, which is a requirement of love.

As a parent of 13 children, my children talk about their amazement at my level of patience. I feel I have failed in this area repeatedly.

I am thankful, though, when the Lord, my husband, or even one of my children let me know when I have failed to correct with kindness or patience.

Proverbs 31:26 says,”When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness”. This is my prayer.  I believe we can learn to correct this way.

Correcting someone is really loving them. When we do correct, let’s keep the attitude which we see in 2 Thessalonians 3:15 – “Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.” A scripture about judging others?

Warning produces the fear of God, which is the beginning of wisdom. Warning can keep someone from hell, death, disease, or living a sinful life.

This next one looks like a Scripture about judging at first. In 1 Timothy 5:20 we’re told, “As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.”

This is for the Believer who is resisting correction given in private. Talk about being “congregationally” incorrect.

We must stand up for beliefs that we know are against the Word of God. As the Body of Christ, it is our responsibility to speak up and bring correction when needed.

What would this world be like if Yeshua, Jesus Christ would not have said all that was needed at His appointed time? Let’s change our thinking about giving and receiving correction.

First, ask the Lord for His wisdom, and ask Him to correct you! Proverbs 15:22 says, “If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.”

Secondly, find someone in your life who is bold enough to correct you, not candy coat everything you do. Give them license to speak into your life. Receive their correction.

Thirdly, be bold enough to correct others in love.  I need it, you need it, and we all need it. Don’t let fear of hurting someone’s pride keep them ignorant of sin.

In closing, please pray for all of us in the Body to take up the responsibility of correcting one another.

Charleen

P.S. Now that you are familiar with SCRIPTURE ABOUT JUDGING and correcting, find out what the Lord says about celebrating His way and the link above.

Matthew 5:8″Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

Remember to read and meditate on the scriptures given each day. It is possible to live a life of purity, gain a pure heart, and see God! The premise for this devotional comes from 1 Peter 2:2, “like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.”

Day 1:

Read Psalm 24:3-5. “Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.”

Ask the Lord to show you any way you haven’t been pure in heart, or walked in purity.  Repent of your failings.  Receive fully His forgiveness and forgive yourself.

Meditate on 1 Peter 2:2.  Ask the Lord to put in you a desire for the pure milk of His Word.

Remember to read and meditate on the scriptures given each day. It is possible to live a life of purity, gain a pure heart, and see God! The premise for this devotional comes from 1 Peter 2:2, “like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.”

Day 2:

Read and mediate on this passage from Philippians 1:9-11 “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

Pray this prayer to the Lord for yourself.

Day 3:

Philippians 2:12b”…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”  Most of us would like our salvation to be automatic. Wouldn’t it be great that when we give our hearts to Christ, we immediately become pure–act completely like Jesus, love everyone, do everything beautifully, and walk as supernatural beings?

Though I do believe it is possible to live a life of purity, we have to remember the wisdom in Galatians 5:17.”The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.”

Let’s ask the Lord to show us what in our flesh is warring against our Spirit; ask Him to help us gain victory over our flesh in these areas. Declare this: My flesh must submit to my Spirit!

Here is the link to Day 4.

Bless you,

Charleen

Day 4:

1 Corinthians 6:18 “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.”

Colossians 3:5 “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”

In the Corinthians scripture, we are told to flee, run away from, immorality, while in Colossians we are commanded to put to death these evil desires.

God never gives us a command, unless it will help us.  We can always know His advise is for our good and the good of others. We need to kill these desires.

Idolatry puts self interests for evil things ahead of Him. Once idols are set up in our hearts, we serve this to get what we want, rather than obeying God’s law.

Ask the Lord to show you any idolatry in your life, repent, and tell Him you will have no other gods before Him. Now begin to act on this.  Don’t allow anything to rule you, but Him.

Day 5:

1 Peter 1:6-7 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations. That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

He knows you long to be pure. so exercise your faith today trusting when we ask, we receive. Everything that is not of faith, is sin.

Decide to trust Him with all your heart.  Spend time greatly rejoicing for this time, knowing you will see the end of your faith, you will live a life of purity.

 

Day 6:

Hebrews 11:11 “Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.”

Hebrews 11:6  “But without faith it is impossible to please God: for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.

If you believe that He is, diligently seek Him, and judge Him faithful.

Day 7:

James 3:6 “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.”

Stop agreeing with the enemy that you will never be pure and speak what the your Heavenly Father says about you in His Word, and about what He can do for you.

With men this would be impossible, but with God, all things are possible! I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Ask the Lord to help you to put a guard about your mouth, that you only speak His truth regarding every situation. Spend time looking for scriptures to make a part of a daily confession.

Day 8:

Pray this Psalm today and know He is faithful to answer.

Psalm 51:6-10

Behold, You desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart.

Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall [in reality] be whiter than snow.

Make me to hear joy and gladness and be satisfied; let the bones which You have broken rejoice.

Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my guilt and iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me.”

 

Day 9:

Ever notice, almost everyone thinks they are right, but it is only through the study of His Word and by His Spirit, that we can know the truth.

Proverbs 16:2 “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit.

Let’s pray, Father, where I think I am right, and I am wrong, please show me. I pray when you weigh my spirit, you find it pleasing to you.

 

Day 10:

We have to remember, we have an extremely long life waiting for us in eternity, and this life on earth is but a breath.Do we really want to forfeit eternity for some worldly temporary lusts?

Let’s read 1 Timothy 4:8:”for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”

Godliness simply means God like.  We must pursue living a Godly life in the midst of a mostly ungodly culture! As we do, we will be happier, more fulfilled, blessed…and greater than this, others will see it is possible.  This world desperately needs to see people living in the world, and  overcoming the world.

Let’s meditate on this scripture from Jude:

But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;

How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

And of some have compassion, making a difference:

And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

In closing, God sacrificed His only Son so that we could live a life of purity, unspotted from the world. Jesus modeled exactly how He wants us to live. He supplied our every need. Let’s be an example of those having a pure heart in today’s culture.

We at FamilyLifeWinners ask and encourage you to consider doing this devotional 3 times. It doesn’t take long and it will establish a 3-fold cord that cannot easily be broken.

Bless you,

Charleen