Luke – Doors Wide Open!
You have probably just read the title and are judging if I spelled judgy correctly. I will help you out. Judgy isn’t a real word. This is a made up word that I overheard a teen say to another teen in describing a situation. Judgy was used to get your attention.
Not that I have it, let’s talk about how quick we are judge each other. We get all judgy before we go out the door. We size up our kids and get all judgy about what they are wearing (that we probably bought) and how they are wearing it. We get all judgy with the news on TV as we get dressed. We say and think, “Well, if they would have not been in that situation, they would not have been hurt.” Although it might be true to some extent, we do not not the truth of anyone’s life or circumstance. So…why are we so judgy? What if we prayed for those injured the night before? What if we prayed for the families of those who have lost a loved one in another shooting? It takes a retraining of the brain.
We are judgy as we drive to work, church, outings or family gatherings. We know how to drive and all others do not, especially the ones who get in our way or cut us off. We tell them how to drive as if they are hearing us in our closed up car. Our mood on the way to work, school or anywhere is growing more sour by the minute…because of our judgyness. We are judgy as soon as we get to our destination, We look at others and wonder why they wore that, or did their hair that way AND why they are not smiling! They might be frowning because of the looks and body language you are emitting. Judgyness is a spiral into negative thinking. Can we retrain the brain?
We can teach our children how to behave, learn and grow without being all judgy and picky with each lesson. Being when they are young. Give them good choices and then let them decide between those choices. If they come up with a way to express themselves in those choices, then accept their input. This is how they will learn to be creative and decisive, which you will applaud later!
Jesus teaches us, “do not judge others”. He teaches that when we judge, we will be judged. I have learned that when we don’t judge, we experience a relief in our souls. Why? Because it is not our job to stand in judgement of others. We really do not want this job. An earthly judge must live with their decisions based on what is presented in evidence. The only, ultimate judge who can see and know all hearts and circumstances is Jesus Christ, our Lord. And how does HE judge? He forgives. We need to retrain our brains.Luke 6, (New Living Translation)
Do Not Judge Others
37 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”
39 Then Jesus gave the following illustration: “Can one blind person lead another? Won’t they both fall into a ditch? 40 Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher.
41 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 42 How can you think of saying, ‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.
HOLY PAUSE…
What do we teach by our words and body language? To be judgy or forgiving?How generous are we with our love for others? Is our loving habits and behaviors like Jesus loves?
Are far are we in developing the characteristics of Christ? Judge only yourself as I am myself…what characteristics of Christ do I need to work on?
So, are we judgy? Can we tame it? Can we ask for forgiveness and ask Jesus to help us be less judgy and more supportive? Will Jesus help us to see others like HE sees them? (Answers are yes to all of the above!)
Dear Heavenly Father,
We have a great amount of work there is to do in ourselves so, we need your help…every hour of every day. We want to be more like you in every way, filled and led by Your Holy Spirit. Do what you must in me, just be gentle. Help me to love more and more like you love us, full of mercy and grace. Transform me to be all you intended for me to be. May your peace, Jesus Christ, rule our heart, minds and souls.
In Jesus Name, we pray.
