Montrose, Colorado
Rev. Willis A. (Bert) Jones, a country preacher
Essay 23
March 2, 2015
"Judge not, that ye be not judged"
A thought came to me recently that we many times judge ourselves as being much less than we really are. On the other hand some of us judge ourselves as almost perfect. Just what does the Bible say concerning these issues?
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." -- Matthew 7:1-2 (NIV)
But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world." -- 1 Corinthians 11:31-32 (NIV)
These two selections seem to teach that if we judge ourselves harshly, we will escape the judgment of the world. Yet this is not what they really teach.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." -- John 3:16-17 (NIV)
This well known scripture teaches salvation and that God is gracious toward the believer. It wasn't Jesus' mission to condemn us. God created us to do his work, follow his lead in whatever he wants us to do and he empowers us to do that mission. We then must believe in ourselves. Don't put yourself down.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." --1 John 1:9 (NIV)
Repent and correct any miss-steps and then go on to do his will. You are forgiven, a new creation. You are God's creation. You have value. God does not make trash.