Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

I have found that the most effective means of avoiding judgment of others is to shift my focus away from other people, and toward Christ and my relationship to Him.

The Bible passage that serves as the best reminder of this for me is Jesus' parable of the Pharisee and the publican (Luke 18:9-14). As long as we are being like the Pharisee and comparing ourselves to others, it becomes all too easy to develop a sense of self-satisfaction or pride at how pleased God must be with us.

When we focus instead on Jesus and His sinless perfection, we (like the publican) must inevitably realize how far (in fact, impossibly) short we fall of the standard that God requires. Such a realization can only drive us to our knees in a plea for God's mercy and forgiveness for Jesus' sake, which is the sole means by which we can be justified (declared by God to be righteous).

If that realization of our spiritual poverty in God's eyes has truly been impressed upon us, we will never again regard ourselves as being qualified to judge others. Instead, we will always remember that we are ALL saved only by God's grace, and we will extend to others the same mercy that God has shown us. (Jesus also illustrated this point in His parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:23-35).)

May 21 2018 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report