We live in a very judgmental society. Everything we say and do in public is almost always seen, heard, or heard about. It's just a fact - people love to judge others.
The problem is that - as Christians - we are labeled as the worst offenders. In some cases, its true. Sometimes, especially when a family member or close friend does something wrong, we practice tough love. How many times have we heard of teenagers getting kicked out of their family's house because they did something stupid? Now, I'm not saying that disciple and punishment is wrong - that is how people learn. But the impulse behind anything we say or do should be love.
John 3:16 is one the most well know verse in the whole world, and it begins "For God so loved the world..." Love has always been God's motivation for dealing with humanity. Shouldn't it be ours, too?
1st Corinthians 16:14, "And do everything with love."
Everything? This is potentially the hardest thing that the Bible asks us to do. How can we live like that? Is it even possible for us, given our flawed and lustful flesh?
Matthew 19:26, "With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible."
So, it is possible for us to escape this vicious cycle of judging others ourselves, but we will never, in this life, escape being judged.
John 15:19, "The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of it, so it hates you."
Give the world something different to see in this day and age. Let your light shine, wear your faith on your sleeve, show love to everyone. Let past hurts go, replace them with love. Let feuds die, and replace them with love. Let wrongs go, and show love.
Colossians 3:12 "Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." Don't forget, these are all aspects of love from 1 Corinthians 13:4 - 7, "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."
Live in love.
Sam
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