Daily Meditations
Forbear to judge, for we are sinners all. ————William Shakespeare
It is so easy for us to judge others. Gossip is usually some form of judgement. Often the things we are quickest to judge in others is the one we don’t see in ourselves. We have not walked in another person’s shoes. We don’t know the whole story. No judgement!
Forgiving God, remind us that we too are often wrong and quick to judge. Help us to walk with compassion and love. AMEN
Difference of rite ought not to involve differences of faith-———Christopher Dawson
Sometimes I think that we spend as much or more time pointing out the flaws of other denominations that we do about other religions. Some feel that their path is the only one and want to be sure that everyone else is wrong.
God is so far beyond out understanding that none of us can claim to have the only truth. Don’t waste time putting down others.
Psalm 51: 10-12
10 create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right[b] spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take your holy spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing[c] spirit.
This is one of my favorite Psalms. I frequently think that my heart needs cleaning out. I have let too many unkind thoughts sneak in. Sometimes my mind is made up about someone and I see them through dark glasses. That opinion might have come from gossip or a too quick judgement on my part. My opinion colors my relationship with them. I need a new and right spirit.
Loving God, help me to clean out my heart of wrong thinking and unfair ideas. Put your spirit within me. AMEN
We are so quick to make judgements. We can decide in one moment about a person and be completely wrong. Indian lore talks about walking a mile in someones shoes. Many times I have known someone for quite a while and had no idea of the tragedies in their life. We have to let go of judging. God knows the whole story and will judge. It’s not our job.
Loving God, you know how we put people into categories and make judgements. Help us to see others with compassion and love.
Holding a grudge is a stone in your heart TV show The Good Doctor
It is so easy to hold on to grudges against people who have wronged us. Sometmes the grudge makes us want to strike back and get revenge. God has called us to a different choice. Through Christ he has made it clear that we are to turn the other cheek. We are not to seek retribution. Judgement is left up to God.
Forgiving God, help us to let go of the stone in our hearts. Help us to give back kindness instead of revenge. AMEN
There is so much judgment going on today. People are judged for their skin color, their religion, their money or lack thereof. That is only the beginning of the list. We could go on with transgender, homosexual, adulterer and on and on.
The problem is we are not called to judge. It is not our job. Our job is to love without judging. Admittedly a difficult job. When someone is everything you despise it is hard to think about accepting and loving but that is what God expects. In spite of what we see in front of us we have to see the human being that God made.
Forgiving God, help us to understand that we are not called to judge. Teach us to see you in everyone we meet. AMEN
It is so easy to judge others. We do it every day. I may be a simple thing such as making a comment about someone’s hair. We may also judge about more serious things forgetting the sins in our own lives. God has said that he is the only judge. Take his word for it and try to curb your judgement of others.
Forgiving God, help us to understand our own missteps….work on ourselves and not judge others. AMEN
Hear God in Other Voices 