Hard Truth About Judgment

Scripture: Do you think, O man, who judges those who do such things, and who does the same thing, that you will escape the judgment of God? Do you despise the riches of His goodness, tolerance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? Romans 2:3-4

Observation: Paul expresses a new twist on judgment. He juxtaposes God's patience and tolerance with sinful people against our judgment, and declares that our judgment is a form of anger and hatred toward God's goodness and love. It is that same love by which Jesus gave his life for our redemption. Therefore, judgment of non-believers who commit sins is actually an action directly against our own salvation.

Application: I SOAP about judgment a lot because it is the thing I probably struggle with most in my life. I am quick to judge, quick to anger. Paul speaks harshly to me here ... my judgment of others is an act of hatred toward God himself.

I certainly do not hate God! However, I obviously reject his creation and created people as flawed and ignorant. And of course they are ... just like me!! In my flawed ignorance, God loves me, and I am so quick to judge others and thus remove the possibility of that same salvation from their lives, even as I claim to want to reach others in the name of Jesus. Again, this all starts with a need for me to completely change my daily activities, my daily thoughts, my overall behavior and character. I need to reject judgment in my thought life, not for the sake of others, but to correct my life with God.

Prayer: Lord, I bow convicted before you. I can only say that I am clay in your hands, willing to be molded and transformed as you will. Please change my ways, my mind, my heart, and my life, especially as it pertains to my judgment of others. Amen.