JUDGMENTAL AND EASILY OFFENDED ‘TUDES

As a true believer in Jesus, it is JESUS who has paid for and forgiven our sins and penalties. JESUS has given us eternal life.

Then why do some Christians look at other Christians with disdain and judgment when they see sin in their lives? (By the way, the meaning of disdain is: to look upon or treat with contempt; despise; scorn. To think unworthy of notice, response, etc.; consider beneath oneself.) We need to look in a mirror because our judgment of others is sin.

Have you forgotten about their sinful nature (or your own) or have you never considered what in their lives from the past or present may have encouraged them to do what they did? Or, have you put yourself up on a pedestal, forgetting why you need Jesus’ forgiveness yourself? Or, don’t you even care about Christians who are struggling with sin? Have you become that cold?

Psalm 40:15 says, “May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” be appalled at their own shame.”

As far as easily taking offense to what a person said or did, it boils down to our own security. The following paragraph gives light to this problem:

* “As long as feelings of security are rooted in ourselves, the tendency to take offense, even at the little things, will exist. If, however, our feelings of security are not rooted in ourselves or our performance, our perspective will change and our response to the actions and comments of others will become more balanced.”

Our security needs to be rooted in Jesus. Instead of judging people, or being easily “ouchy”, we should do what Jesus would do. He would love and forgive them. We should give an ear if they decide to open up, to receive help. Even if they don’t open up, we need to pray for them daily, asking Jesus to heal their hearts and minds so they can do the will of God in their lives and restore their close relationship with God. They never lost their salvation, but they did temporarily lose their closeness to God.

So, do you understand my point? Allow people to sin and be imperfect and be restored instead of looking down on them like that never happened to YOU!. Be forgiving, and for sure, don’t gossip about them. That’s another sin. Mirrors do come in handy!

With a judgmental and unforgiving attitude, how are non-believers ever going to see Jesus in us and want what we have? We’re supposed to be a light to the world!

Proverbs 19:11 says, “A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.”

How easily we forget where we came from and Who healed us and how much more we have to learn and how much farther we need to grow in our faith. We need to throw away our pedestals!…but keep our mirrors!!!

Fortunately, because of Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross and His resurrection to defeat death, we have the opportunity to be forgiven from our sins and live forever in Heaven, BUT not before we humble ourselves before God and believe by, FAITH, that Jesus died for us, and not before we confess and repent of our sins.

1 John 1:8-9 says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

By the way — no one can be without sin in this life, just forgiven. Only in Heaven will we be without sin. God the Father sees us without sin now by looking at us through Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins that we have trusted in by faith. That’s the only way!!!

Sharon

* Paragraph taken from “How can I learn to not take offense at little things?” www.GotQuestions.org