Guest Author - Jenna Robinson

“ 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. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brothers eye.”
Matthew 7:1-5

It happens all the time, someone does something and we pass judgment on his or her behavior and they respond with this verse or some form of it. Or someone judges us and we respond with the same. Is this verse giving us free reign to do as we please because our relationship with Christ is a “personal” relationship? I think not. I think this verse is reminding us to CHECK OURSELVES! How are we living? Are we salt and light or are we mist and darkness? Do we practice what we preach and do we demonstrate what we believe in our lives? Saying one thing and doing another is basically the definition of hypocrisy. Does this mean that we have to accept everyone’s lifestyle and just go around living under a veil?

“By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”
Matthew 7:16-20

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgives you. And over all these virtues put on love which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Colossians 3:12-14

These are the measurements we as Christians are to use for judgment. We can look into the world and determine the walk of our brothers and sisters by the way they live their lives, according to God’s redeeming Word. You want to know how to live a good and fulfilling life? Accept Jesus as your personal Savior and read the Word of God. By the Holy Spirit, the words in the Bible will become clear. It will all make sense. It’s simply a matter of surrender. Are you ready to surrender your life over to Him?