Several of those I love have said to me, “Judge not, lest ye be judged,” especially when I questioned some of their choices. But I ask you, what about this?
My dear friends, if you know people who have wandered off from God’s truth, don’t write them off. Go after them. Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction and prevented an epidemic of wandering away from God. James 5:19 MSG
Lord, how can we share Your love with the unwise we love? They need to understand, “You are headed down the wrong road, the path of destruction?” How do we answer them when they say, “Judge not?”
One I love even informed me that in the Bible it says, “Judge not,” so I shouldn’t be judging. Then he pointed out how my own plate is not clean. Yes, it’s true, my plate is not clean.
One unwise I was especially concerned about said to me, when I questioned her choices, “I already know how you feel because of your Christian beliefs, so don’t go there with me.”
“Judge not,” they say to me. But yet, their choices mess up their lives and affect the lives of the Innocents. I’m brokenhearted, they’re so blind and don’t seem to realize consequences will come. Their choices affect the Innocents. And yet, they teach their Innocents that I’m judgmental due to my Christian beliefs.
Lord, what am I to do? What am I to say? I love them so much and yet I see how their unwise choices are messing up their lives and the lives of the Innocents with them too.
I recently told a loved one, “Yes, when you sin and ask for forgiveness, God will forgive you. But you still have consequences. There will always be consequences. God grants forgiveness, but bad choices always seem to bring pain. If not to the one who made the choice, it’ll bring pain to all those who love them. Even the innocent will suffer consequences from the sins of the guilty.”
When I overeat in gluttony, bad choice, I do ask God to forgive me and He does. But when I stand on the scales, there are my consequences.
I’m accused of judging when I question their choices, They go forth doing what they want at that moment, justify it, and then go forth declaring their blessings. Lord, have mercy on them and the Innocents in their lives. Lead the Innocents to make different choices according to Your will. Cover the Innocents with Your mighty blood to protect them from the choices/decisions of the Unwise ahead of them.
Even though some of those I love have already made decisions not to live in accordance with Your laws, have mercy on them and the Innocents with them. Save the Innocents, don’t let them suffer the consequences of the Unwise. Have mercy on all these for I love all of them. You love them too. This I know, for You willingly died for them all.
Lord, the Unwise say, “Judge not,” but I ask for mercy for them. After all, didn’t You say mercy triumphs over judgement? Lord, they no longer listen to me, so please send someone to talk to them about Your forgiveness that they will listen to. They’ve shut the door on me.
Their choices make me worry about them and the Innocents with them. You love all of them more than I. Please send someone to show them of Your mighty love and forgiveness for them. Open their eyes to see how much You love them. Open their ears to hear Your voice. Take out their heart of stone and replace it with a heart for You. Help them to realize that true love and peace can only come from You.
______________________________________
Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the Rule that sets us free. For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time. James 2:13 MSG
For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:13 NKJV
Remove their hardened heart of stone. Grant all of them a heart for You. I love them so much. It breaks my heart to watch them turn from You. I love them. Lord, do something. Please.
**The short devotional, “Holy 30” (See picture of Day 15 & Day 16) is based on I Peter 1:16. First Baptist of Tillman’s Corner published this devotional. I didn’t write any of it, but I do have permission to share it with you.
If you would like some additional information about our church check out this website: http://www.fbtc.org/ . You can also listen to some sermons from our pastors. Enjoy them, I do.
You’ll also be connected to “Bible Gateway” if you click on the underlined scripture tab. This is a great source for locating Bible scriptures online.
#Holy30
