“It takes one to know one. Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors.” ~Apostle Paul

Tags

Criticism, Jesus, Judgement, Romans 2

I don’t want to be condemned. No way, no how.

I want to live in freedom. I don’t want that guilt in my life.

And so, God says over and over in His message of good news to me. I am free from all the things I have done that miss His goal for me.

I need to reflect Jesus love and freedom to others and eliminate criticism and judgement from my ways. I am not to judge, period. Jesus is clear on that.

God is God. God is in charge. God will judge me. I must take advantage of his mercy every day. No way around that.

Those people are on a dark spiral downward. But if you think that leaves you on the high ground where you can point your finger at others, think again. Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. It takes one to know one. Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors. But God isn’t so easily diverted. He sees right through all such smoke screens and holds you to what you’ve done. Romans 2:1-2

May I live free from judgmental criticism.

"Did you have any idea that God’s government was right on your doorstep?" ~~Jesus

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God's government, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Judgement, Kingdom, Luke 10, Sodom

Jesus has brought in a new World (Kingdom) and a new agreement for how we are to live. We are His Ambassadors.

We deliver His message to this world. We represent Him. When we aren’t received, people miss God’s World.

An awesome responsibility for us and a challenge to those who don’t listen. Jesus is serious. He means what he says. I have learned that it is a smart thing to listen to him.

May I represent Jesus well. May those in need hear His message of Good News!!

 When you enter a town and are not received, go out in the street and say, ‘The only thing we got from you is the dirt on our feet, and we’re giving it back. Did you have any idea that God’s government was right on your doorstep?’ Sodom will have it better on Judgment Day than the town that rejects you. (Luke 10:10-12 The Message)

“On the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.” ~Jesus

Tags

Accountability, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Judgement, Matthew 12, Words

Jesus knew the value of saying the right things. Jesus only said what He heard His Father saying.

That led Him to do what He saw His Father doing. Many things I say are pretty careless. I don’t think. I say things that hurt others. Sometimes I actually do it on purpose.

There is an accounting for what I say. There will come a time when I have to give an account of what I have said. I should spend more time talking about the way of God. That is what I want to be accountable for.

May I say what I hear God saying. May I speak the truth.

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. Matthew 12:36-37

"And he has given him the authority, simply because he is the Son of Man, to decide and carry out matters of Judgment." ~~Jesus

Tags

Jesus Sayings, John 5, Judgement, Love

Authority of God

Jesus is very clear. I am not to judge others. He is also clear that all judgement has been turned over to Him by His Father.

Why? Because He is God’s Son. He gets to decide and He will carry it out. God has spoken.

If I know that, I need to act like it. I have no authority to judge. My only job is to love. Everything else is up to God and Jesus.

And he has given him the authority, simply because he is the Son of Man, to decide and carry out matters of Judgment.” ~~Jesus  (John 5:25-27 The Message)

What is happening with my friends who follow Jesus?

Tags

Friends, Jesus, John 15, Judgement, Love

I think of certain friends very often. Every time I think of them, I am so thankful to God for that they live freely in Jesus. What a blessing that is.

The chains that bound them are off. Amazing.

To see their open access to God is inspiring. What Jesus has given them freely blesses me just thinking of it. I will be glad with what is happening. It is good stuff for sure. I am not one to judge. I am one who has received great gifts. I am one who owes a lot. I can only answer for myself. That is what love means. I am called to love.

There is clearly no end to what is happening to my friends. It is hard to express in words. It is hard to know what it is all about some days. If anyone needs evidence of how good God is, you just have to know them. It is all the verification that is needed.

They are a blessing. That is that and that is all there is to it.

May I continue to blessed knowing such amazing people.

John 15:14-15 The Message (MSG)

I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.

“Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that’s what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions.” ~Apostle Paul

Tags

2 Corinthians 5, Apostle Paul Sayings, God's Will, Jesus, Judgement, Messiah

Pleasing God

There is a main thing. I need to be clear about what it is. Ignorance, in this regard, is not an excuse. Jesus has made it known to us.

Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing. That is all there is to it on any given day. We have been given our mission. Jesus knew that his goal was to know what God wanted and to do it.

If I want to hit the target, the first thing I need to do is take aim. Is my aim today to please God? Is that my only consideration?

God is God. I will face him one day. Jesus has been given the authority, by his Father, to judge. Will I stand in his mercy or will I be condemned?

I must please God today! That is the only thing that matters. I must be cheerful about it. No grumbling allowed.

But neither exile nor homecoming is the main thing. Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that’s what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions. Sooner or later we’ll all have to face God, regardless of our conditions. We will appear before the Messiah and take what’s coming to us as a result of our actions, either good or bad.

Source: 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 (The Message Bible)

“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment.” ~Jesus

Tags

Criticism, Culture, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Judge, Judgement, Matthew 7

Oh my goodness. We live in a world where a critical spirit is par for the course 24/7. It is in our culture and it is non stop.

Jesus wouldn’t put up with this. His challenge to us is clear. No picking on people, no jumping on their failures, no criticizing their faults. No judging of others unless we want to be judged by God. This is serious stuff. Jesus is not kidding. God’s goal for us is for us to focus on loving others. God is the judge, not us.

I need to live my part in what our Father wants me to do. That has nothing to do with anyone else. It has everything to do with my relationship with God.

Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor. Matthew 7:1 -5

“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize faults-unless, of course, you want the same treatment.” ~Jesus

Tags

Criticism, Golden Rule, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Judgement, Matthew 7, Respect, Understanding

“The Golden Rule” mosaic (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

How do I want to be treated? With respect. With understanding. I like to be given the benefit of the doubt.

How do you want to be treated? The same way I’m sure.

 “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize faults-unless, of course, you want the same treatment.” ~Jesus (Matthew 7:1)

I don’t want to be treated by others with a critical attittude. I should never be critical of others. God’s goal is for to love and not be judgmental.

Hard to do but through the power of His Spirit I can.

"Las Vegas and New Orleans will have it easy on Judgment Day compared to you." ~Jesus

Tags

God is God, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Judgement, Luke 10

Las Vegas

Tyre and Sidon were well known pagan cities in Jesus time. It might be like saying Las Vegas and New Orleans will have it easy on Judgement Day compared to Atlanta that has a church on every corner.

Jesus is in our midst performing amazing miracles. Do we see Him? Do we hear Him? Do we believe Him?

It is easy to judge places like Las Vegas and miss what He is doing in Dallas. May I see Jesus here and respond to Him.

God is God. There will be a day of judgement. We may like to believe that a loving God won’t judge us. That would be a mistake.

“Tyre and Sidon will have it easy on Judgment Day compared to you.” ~Jesus (Luke 10:13-14 The Message Bible)

Is God serious business?

Tags

Jesus, Judgement, Love, Nahum 1

Is God serious business? You bet He is. God is love but he is also our Judge. This is what we call “tough love” but in God’s case, it is tougher love. We are accountable to Him.

So is Jesus. God definitely won’t be trifled with. If we think so, we do so at our peril. God is God. We need to know that.

God is serious business. He won’t be trifled with. ~~Nahum 1:2

“Those who have lived the wrong way, will walk into a resurrection Judgment.” ~~Jesus

Tags

Jesus, Jesus Sayings, John 5, Judgement, Resurrection

Jesus is always clear. There will be a resurrection. There will also be a  judgement. Those who have lived the right way are going to walk into life. Those who haven’t won’t. No confusion here at all. I acknowledge that I am clear about this.

God is God. He is the only Judge. He has also given all judgement over to His son, Jesus the Messiah. I am clear about that as well. There is a resurrection of life. In Him, we live that kind of life.

May I stay clear and live the resurrection life.

“Those who have lived the wrong way, will walk into a resurrection Judgment.” ~~Jesus John 5:28-29 (The Message)