Observation: James could not be clearer in this passage ... believers are not to criticize, defame, or judge each other. All believers are attempting to do the will of the Lord, and judgment of anyone's methods therefore belongs to the Lord alone, for he alone is the judge.
Application: I have been angry for two days now about the pharisaical behavior of my sister inlaw, and how her words and actions have hurt primarily my wife, but also me. I could go on and on through a 30-year history of myself first-hand, and probably more like 50 years for my wife, about how much this woman has hurt us simply by declaring how much better her faith is than everyone else ... all while she experiences sorrow and hardship as a direct result of her failings.
I judge her, and claim a righteous high-ground because she judges us first. I know she's a Pharisee in the truest form I have ever seen, and Jesus gave us a clear example of how to respond to and judge Pharisees. However ...
1) Jesus is Lord, and I am not.
2) Judgment begets judgment, and I am nowhere near good enough to seek judgment.
3) My anger only harms me.
So I will try to release the anger today. It isn't easy, because her words and actions are simultaneously so provably wrong, and so intentionally hurtful. Again, I could go on and on, but ... I need to just stop, forgive, and move on in my heart. I trust in the Lord for my peace and joy, and for peace and joy for my wife. Judgment is his, not mine.
Prayer: Lord, I forgive Carol and release her to you for anything else. Please give my wife your peace today, a peace she cannot understand, in this matter, and allow us both to move on in our hearts and minds. We place you above us, and we have no place in this matter other than to continue to serve you and love others in your name. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment