Judge Not

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

MATTHEW 7:1-2

IT CAN BE TEMPTING to judge other people. We see people do and say things we don’t agree with, and it’s easy to think, What’s wrong with that person? It’s also tempting to point out to others what we don’t agree with. But judging other people goes against what God wants, and he’s very clear about that. In fact, he gives us a warning to not judge others, or we will be judged in the same way we judge others.

Is there anything you do or say that someone else might not like? Maybe you’re a big superhero fan or you love to make slime. Someone else might not like those things at all. Or maybe you have a favorite shirt that someone else thinks is dumb and that person says so. Or what about your new haircut? What if someone told you that they think you look silly? Or what if someone made fun of you for believing in God?

Chances are you’ve experienced something like one of these situations and know what it’s like to be judged. It’s not fun and it doesn’t feel very good. Instead of judging someone else, be kind.

DO

Look in your closet or around your room. Do you see anything someone else has made fun of or said he or she didn’t like? What was that like? What did you do with the item after that happened?

Challenge yourself to only say kind and uplifting things to others rather than judging them.

PRAY

Dear God,

Thank you for giving me your grace when I say and do wrong things. Please help me remember that my job is not to judge but instead to be kind and loving. Amen.

READ

Matthew 22:36-39; Romans 14:10-13