Judge Not!

Judge not lest you be judged.” Matthew 7:1

As I was at a shopping mall yesterday, I noticed an elderly woman using a cane, being escorted by an elderly man, probably her husband. As they crossed the parking lot and stepped on to the curb, the woman using the cane stumbled but was caught by the elderly man.

Our own lives can be a stumbling block for others even if we have good intentions and we feel that we are doing the right thing. We might do or say things that make others feel discouraged or inspire doubt or frustration. We even might cause others to lose faith or to become weaker in their walk with the Lord.

We can be stumbling blocks by our words and our deeds. It is especially dangerous if we claim to be Christians and fail to live as Christ followers. It leads people to be confused. So in Matthew 18:15-18 Jesus said that we should search our own lives and be sure that we are being led by God before we seek to correct others. .

Thought For Today: Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount that we should not “look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye” but pay closer attention to “the log that is in your own eye.” Instead of rushing to judge others, we first need to purify our own lives by confessing our own sins. Only then will we be able to gently point out the sins in others’ lives (Matthew 7:2-5).

Today, seek to live in such a way that you are not a stumbling block to others. Remember that God is the judge. You will have to answer to Him and so will everyone else. Make sure that you are living for Him.

Today’s Prayer Focus: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any area of your life that might be a stumbling block to others. Pray that God will guide you to align His Word with your beliefs and actions. Deo Volente.