Live by the Spirit (5) - Give Up Judging

“Do not judge others, and God will not judge you; do not condemn others, and God will not condemn you; forgive others, and God will forgive you.  Give to others, and God will give to you. Indeed, you will receive a full measure, a generous helping, poured into your hands—all that you can hold. The measure you use for others is the one that God will use for you.” Luke 6:37

To live by the Spirit requires us to have a different world view. This is because God does not see as man sees and so when we start to think like him an alternative way of seeing starts to be evident in our lives. When the Spirit comes and places his stamp of ownership on us he inevitably brings us to a point where something happens within, because the Holy Spirit is a heart changer when he enters our life. When the Spirit comes he brings compassion for others.. This initial conversion and subsequent conversions make us more loving. There are so many accounts in history of transformation in the lives of the Saints. John Wesley for example tells us how his heart was 'strangely warmed' by the Spirit empowering his ministry and changing his life. St Francis encountered God and changed radically.  We change because we start to adopt God's view of others. Compassion pierces our heart and we see our neighbour differently. When we see as God sees we see beyond what people do, to see them with some of the kind of love that God has for them.

But after our initial Holy Spirit experience we need in our more mundane daily lives a mechanism to keep the Spirit's life at work. And that is what we have been talking about these last few weeks. Learning not to judge is an essential component part.

Our problem is that we are prone to lose the ground that we gained previously. To give it away. One of the ways we give it away quickest is when we start to have a critical spirit about other people. Criticising others is like throwing tacks into the path of our spiritual life.

But think on this! The person who helped you most in your life? What were they like? I can almost guarantee that they were someone compassionate who accepted you as you are without judging. Someone who you trusted.

In our daily living we need to think about Jesus words "The measure you use for others is the one that God will use for you.” 

We do all this whilst we are still called daily to discern between good and evil in our choices. Choosing that which gives life.

For reflection

I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me. Psalm 57.2

What measure am I using?

• Who am I judging and why?
• What is the difference between judgement and discernment? 

Dear Lord, I so want to be your disciple but I am so fallible. Have mercy on me a sinner, see the good in me and lift me out of my pit of despair. Instead make me a new creation, called out of darkness into your wonderful light. Help me to love without reserve and to see as you see. Amen