Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.1
The bible tells me at what ever point I judge someone else I do the same thing.2 3 So when I judge someone am I not establishing my personal standards? Isn’t that the overflow of my heart? If someone doesn’t meet my standards and I judge and condemn them, doesn’t God judge and condemn me for not meeting His standards? If so, why do I have standards? Someone might argue that I should have standards to evaluate myself, not others.4 This sounds like wisdom because the bible does tell me to judge myself so that I won’t be judged however, could it be that this self examination is comparing myself to God’s standards? If I have the power to loose and bind as the word says that I have, do I bind myself through self judgment and condemnation when I don’t meet my own standards? Am I talking in circles? On the surface, it appears like confusion however, what is the cause of this circular thinking? Who is the author of confusion? Has the enemy sowed a lie that I’ve allowed to grow in my heart to produce this? Yes, If we look at the tactics of the enemy, 5 we can see that a slight alteration of the truth births a lie.
99% Pure water plus 1% poison is 100% poison.
Someone may recoil and say I’m confused and lost sight of the truth. I assure you, truth is my goal, for everything that is not truth binds.6 The lie of the enemy came to fruition when I established my own standards, even if they perfectly align with God’s, because they establish me as judge, the spirit and the savior, a role in direct opposition to God.
Consider: For whom did Jesus die and who set the standards? Jesus didn’t die for someone who doesn’t meet my standards. Jesus didn’t die for me because I didn’t meet my standards. When I establish my own standards I am establishing a false gospel which does not produce life.
Conclusion: Why do I have standards? Jesus didn’t pass judgement or have standards of his own but instead was one with the Father.
You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no-one. But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.7
My Prayer: God please forgive me for establishing a false gospel. Forgive me for setting myself up as god and acting as ruler and judge. Have I not set my ideals as an idol? Please forgive me for disrespecting and dishonoring You. I release everyone including myself from my standards. I cast down my standards and the work of the enemy in the name of Jesus. I embrace your standards along with your ability to make me stand. Forgive me for requiring from others what You don’t require from me. I recognize that You are the judge and You are able to make others stand too. I release all judgments and render them null and void by the blood of Jesus. God, please heal everyone’s hearts from the effects of my sin. I praise and honor Your name. I humbly submit to You, my Lord and King.
Thank you God for convicting me of my sin. Thank you for your mercy and compassion. Thank you for your grace which enables me to confess my sins in agreement with You. Thank you for hearing me. Thank you for Your faithfulness that forgives.
Help me to love like You do because You first loved me. Thank you for helping me receive Your love.
07.14.11