It seems common these days to hear, "don't judge me..", usually in the context of a behavior--more often than not, a behavior proscribed by the Bible. Often, the line comes from someone who knows just enough about Jesus to know that he said something along that line, as a way to silence their "accuser".
In Matthew 7:1 NKJV Jesus declared, "Judge not, that you be not judged." In the commentary (Spirit Filled Life Bible), I got this Bible verse from, it noted, Jesus does not forbid criticisms, opinions or the condemnation of wrongdoing. What He forbids is the spirit of faultfinding that overlooks one's own shortcomings while assuming the role of supreme judge. In other words, stating that a behavior is wrong is not the same as, saying something is wrong and then getting a "high and mighty" attitude about it. It is good to have an attitude of mercy to counteract this tendency because "blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy" (Matthew 5:7).
In I Corinthians 2:15, further light is cast on the topic...."But he who is spiritual judges all things." Jesus confirmed the idea of making correct, spiritual judgments vs. fleshly, self-righteous, "high and mighty" judgments in John 8:15-16, where He said, "You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent me." Indeed the Bible is "sharper than any two-edged sword..."
Monday, December 31, 2012
New Year verses to consider....
It's a New Year again...
Philippians 3:14 notes, "I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
In John 16:13, Jesus promised the Holy Spirit in the future, "...He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come."
For the Lord's people, those doing His will and keeping His Word, may the Lord bless according to Psalm 65:11, "You crown the year with Your goodness , And your paths drip with abundance."
Sadly, just as Jesus said in Matthew 7:13-14, those on the road to destruction are many and those who find the path of life are few.
Hosea 9:7 declares, "The days pf punishment have come;
The days of recompense have come,
Israel knows!
The prophet is a fool,
The spiritual man is insane,
Because of the greatness of your iniquity and your great enmity."
Sadly, this verse describes the extreme hostility among so many Americans toward the Bible and God's servants. Will America be judged severely this year, or next, or the next? I don't know but if the American people don't repent, it is coming!
Philippians 3:14 notes, "I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
In John 16:13, Jesus promised the Holy Spirit in the future, "...He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come."
For the Lord's people, those doing His will and keeping His Word, may the Lord bless according to Psalm 65:11, "You crown the year with Your goodness , And your paths drip with abundance."
Sadly, just as Jesus said in Matthew 7:13-14, those on the road to destruction are many and those who find the path of life are few.
Hosea 9:7 declares, "The days pf punishment have come;
The days of recompense have come,
Israel knows!
The prophet is a fool,
The spiritual man is insane,
Because of the greatness of your iniquity and your great enmity."
Sadly, this verse describes the extreme hostility among so many Americans toward the Bible and God's servants. Will America be judged severely this year, or next, or the next? I don't know but if the American people don't repent, it is coming!
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Merry Christmas 2012
As you celebrate Christmas this year, please keep in mind these verses from the Gospel of John:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it....He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who received Him, to those who who believed in His name, he gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." John 1:1-5, 10-13.
"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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done
has been done through God." John 3:16-21 NIV
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it....He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who received Him, to those who who believed in His name, he gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." John 1:1-5, 10-13.
"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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done
has been done through God." John 3:16-21 NIV
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