Title: Be Graceful in Judgement!

‭Matthew‬ ‭7:1‭-‬2‬ ‭KJV‬

[1]  Judge not, that ye be not judged. [2] For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 

Devotion:

At first glance, it’s easy to misinterpret Matthew 7:1 as a pass to disregard accountability for sinful actions, a license to turn a blind eye to wrongdoing. But when we take a closer look, Jesus' words in this parable aren't an endorsement of moral indifference. 

 The Greek word "κρίνετε" (krinete), translated as "judge," means “to form a condemning opinion about someone without knowledge.” 

Jesus isn't advocating against fair and righteous judgment (John 7:24). We know this because, in this same chapter of Matthew 7, Jesus tells His followers to judge (Matthew 7:16). 

 Jesus cautions against judging others unfairly, we should instead lean on the Holy Spirit to practice good judgment. This verse isn't a call for us to abandon discernment, though; rather, it's an invitation to wield it with compassion and understanding. Jesus simply wants us to understand the whole story, circumstances before reacting to it. We have to examine ourselves first and think of what action we would take in a given situation before we react to someone's response to a given situation.

  It should compel Christ’s followers, even today, to reflect on the measure we use:

Are we quick to condemn or eager to discern with grace? Are our judgments tempered with empathy?

  Think for a moment: Where have you been quick to condemn others without full understanding or accurate knowledge? How can you lead with compassion instead of a judgmental attitude? Dear reader think deeply of it, If I was in the situation what will I do? Let the Holy Spirit guide you. Shalom. Hallelujah. Share you thoughts with us.

Edited with additional input by Dr Joel Olanrewaju. I'm reachable on gbemide09@gmail.com for questions, suggestions, counseling and prayer requests.