What If God?

Chapter Five…Discernment

19. Making Wise Judgments

What if God in His omniscience sternly reminds us through His half- brother’s pen that we would always have to deal with the temptation to judge each other in the body? But also we might remember that Paul told us that it is our duty to judge those in the body? And what about Jesus saying do not judge, or you will be judged, measured to you the same measure you used to judge? Jesus also said to remove the log in your own eye; then you can see clearly to remove the speck in your brother’s eye! But since Jesus also told us we would have to make judgments, might He be giving us the correct measuring tool to use when we have to make those judgments, namely His Word. That is what believers will be measured by.

Consider how we are often tempted to think wrongly of a brother or sister when we see something that strikes as wrong. This is the work of our enemy desiring to be divisive in the body and it works. In the spirit of love and unity, we must make every effort to resist these wrong temptations and think correctly in our judgments.

Might James, Paul and Jesus be speaking of the types of things the world gets caught up in judging, concerning each other, like what someone eats, how educated someone is, how rich or poor someone is, how someone wears his or her hair, the price of clothes someone wears, the type automobile a person may drive, the type home he or she may live in or whether a person owes money or how much. This list might go on and on, and these things may certainly affect our lifestyles, which will be effected by how we apply God’s principles to things such as modest dress and the command not to owe anyone, save the debt of love which we owe everyone.

It does seem that the pivot point on judging in the body has to do with known sin and that sin being addressed by those to whom the responsibility is assigned, namely those who are spiritually mature in a family and or those in authority in the church. The temptation to judge the things as the world does, things that are usually petty at best and tend to cause fights and quarrels should not even come into play in the body that is commanded to love each other with the love of Christ. We are even commanded that we must love, and at times that love may mean addressing known sin! As our loving Abba Father reminds us of these things, might we realize how important it is to act carefully and lovingly in all situations as we, by His grace, are conformed to His image.

Father, You are the Judge of all souls, and may we walk cautiously as we may be called on to exercise judgment. Chapter Five Discernment

19. Making Wise Judgments/Study Guide

What if God, in His omniscience... 1. sternly reminds us through His half-brother’s pen that we would always have to deal with the temptation to judge each other in the body? (James 2:4 & 4:11-12)

2. But might we also remember that Paul told us it is our duty to judge those in the body? (1 Corinthians 5:12-13) 3. And what about Jesus saying, do not judge, or you will be judged, measured to you the same measure you used to judge? Jesus also said to remove the log in your own eye; then you can see clearly to remove the speck in your brother’s eye! (Matthew 7:1-5) 4. But since Jesus also told us we would have to make judgments, might He be giving us the correct measuring tool to use when we have to make those judgments, namely His Word? That is what believers will be measured by. Might James, Paul, and Jesus be speaking of the types of things the world gets caught up in judging, concerning each other, like what someone eats, how educated someone is, how rich or poor someone is, how someone wears his or her hair, the price of clothes someone wears, the type automobile a person may drive, the type of home he or she may live in, or whether a person owes money and how much. This list might go on and on, and these things… (James 4:1-6 & Romans 14:10-13) 5. may certainly affect our lifestyles, which will be effected by how we apply God’s principles to things such as modest dress… (1 Timothy 2:9-10) 6. and the command not to owe anyone, save the debt of love we owe everyone. (Romans 13:8) 7. It does seem that the pivot point on judging in the body has to do with known sin… (1 Corinthians 5:6-11) 8. and that sin being addressed by those to whom the responsibility is assigned, namely those who are spiritually mature in a family and those in authority in the church. (Galatians 6:1-5) 9. The temptation to judge the things as the world does, things that are usually petty at best and tend to cause fights and quarrels, should not even come into play in the body… (James 4:1-11) 10. that is commanded to love each other with the love of Christ. (1 John 4:7-12) 11. We are even commanded that we must love, and at times that love may mean addressing known sin! As our loving Abba Father reminds us of these things, might we realize how important it is to act carefully and lovingly in all situations, as we, by His grace, are conformed to His image. (1 John 4:21 & John 13:34) Father, You are the Judge of all souls, and may we walk cautiously in case we are called on to exercise judgment.