Topic: WHO MADE YOU A JUDGE?
Text: ROMANS 2:1-15
Reflection:
“…O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?” ROMANS 2:1-3.
Many times as believers we are quick to judge others especially unbelievers. We look at them, their life style and what they do and we pass judgement on them. But is that the right thing to do? Who made you a judge over another person, what makes you think you are better than the person you are judging? Apostle Paul warns in our text that we should be careful in judging others because in doing so, we are condemning ourselves. Before we continue, it is important to know what it means to judge others.
Judgement: To judge simply means to weigh someone on a scale (your own scale) and pass a conclusion of verdict on such a person. The conclusion of verdict means condemnation, it means you have found the person wanting in that area of concern to you and condemn the person either verbally or in your heart. When you judge, you’re simply saying that you are better than them, or you are saying that you are right and they are wrong or in other words you know better what is right and wrong. Hear what Jesus says in Matthew; “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?” MATTHEW 7:1-3. Sometimes we look at other people’s sin and like the pharisees, we think we are better off because we’re not like them, what makes you think if you’re paced on same “scale” you’ll not be found wanting? If God should judge us all based on our own righteousness, who can make it? I guess no one. So let’s not judge, God is the one that gave His son, and Jesus is the one that died for sinners and not you, He knows who is right or wrong, so let Him be the judge.
Thank God for you if you are saved, but you must know that you didn’t save yourself neither did your works saved you but you were saved by grace. “…not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” ROMANS 2:4b. It was the kindness of God that led to your salvation, so allow others the opportunity to experience this same God’s kindness. Think about your life when you were in the world, what you did and how many times you offend God even as a believer, God was patient with you, His grace was sufficient for you until the day you turned to Him in repentance. Why not exercise same kindness and patient towards others? This is not saying that you allow them to continue in doing wrong NO, even Paul stated if clearly that “…Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid…” ROMANS 6:1-2a. We can’t continue to sin or allow others to continue to sin around us because grace is available or because of God’s kindness. His Kindness is meant to draw us closer to Himself so can we can rediscover who we truly are in Him.
Conclusion: Do not judge, rather correct in Love. when you find anyone, your brother or sister going astray, do not condemn them, correct them in love, let love be the undertone of your message to them and not condemnation. God will give us the grace to escape the judgement that results from judging others in Jesus name.
