TRUE JUDGMENT

In John 8:15,17 in the words of Jesus, 'You decided according to what you can see and touch.  My judgment would be true, because I wouldn't make it out of the narrowness of my experience but in the largeness of the One who sent me, the Father."


Jesus has told us in other scripture not to judge.  Here, in John 8, He tells us why.  "Let Christ be God's judge for He listens to the Father.  Our experience and vision can not see the whole truth as God sees and knows it."


My judgments are a far cry from truth.  They're made not only from my experience and my visual nature, but from the often-erring perceptions I have had since a young child.  It is wrong for me to make judgments about others--all people are loved by God--from my extremely narrow view.  There is no need, in fact for me to make any judgments as we are all imperfect.  And, watch out for the times we think we are being judged, me especially! My reactions have been totally unnecessary and often unfair.


So what can we do?  You and I can turn to God. Think of Jesus who always turned to the largeness of the Father's mercy and acted only on that. Jesus called it "true judgment."  Mercy and truth are totally compatible.  Our hearts are not big enough to find that "true judgment," so we must turn to God and let it go.


God, Let me be a woman of mercy and truth.  May I cease from judging others, remembering only that in your large-ness, you are truly fair.  Amen.


Have any of you been in a similar situation?


Jo INMN