One of the most interesting comments I see online today is about others judging. When someone says they are being judged, I often wonder how much of that is based in fear, how much is based in reality, and how much is a lack of accepting responsibility for their actions.
Have you ever been accused of being judgmental? Have you ever been judged?
If someone accuses you of being judgmental, maybe you were and maybe you weren’t. It’s easy for them to put up a defense and point a finger back at you – the one person that called them on their actions. Before you feel bad about what you did, decide if you were in the wrong.
If you have ever felt judged, maybe you were and maybe you weren’t. Before you lash out at that person taking you to task, ask yourself what your responsibility was in all of that.
What does it mean to judge anyway?
Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
Matthew 7:1-5
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
2 Timothy 4:2
If you have done something clearly wrong and someone calls you on it, you are not being judged. You are being reproved or admonished. There is a difference in that and being judged. The person that called you on what you did may have done it out of love and concern for you. They may also have done it because they did not want to commit a sin of omission. If you are clearly in the wrong, they cannot put their stamp of approval on it by keeping their mouth shut.
You are being judged when some petty little thing is being held against you. Some of the commentaries I looked at used words like rash or harsh. If the person is holding you to some standard – perhaps even one higher than they are living – you are being judged. Be careful though that you do not assume someone is judging you just because they mention some thoughtless, if only in their own mind, act you did. Maybe they feel you acted a certain way because of something they did.
LIFE APPLICATION
Key Focal Verse:
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 3:16-17
Today’s challenge is to look closely at yourself when you are feeling judged or being accused of being judgmental. Ask God to reveal the truth of the situation to you. Sometimes it can be hard to see.