ARE YOU A JUDGE?
There is an old story about a man walking on a dark street. He met another man with a cane and a lantern, who was feeling his way with his cane, but apparently making no use of his lantern. When asked if he were blind, the man replied that he was, but he knew the street well and had no difficulty in making his way with his cane.
“But,” asked the stranger “why do you carry a lantern?”
“To keep other people without lanterns from stumbling,” answered the blind man.
What a needed message this is for those of us who are Christians. We have the light of Christ on the inside, but that light is not to be kept inside. We are to let it shine for the sake of others. Christ is the light of the world. He has come into our lives, not only to give us light, but to enable you and me to show forth the light wherever we go, helping others to come to know Him and enjoy Him. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Christians are not to live for themselves, but for others. It is not enough to possess the light, we must provide light for those who are spiritually destitute and helpless.
At times we are prone to look at other people and pity them in their sad state. Rather than criticize or judge them, we should reach out and help them
A Christian friend tells of walking to the supermarket near her home on a brisk fall morning. “Walking behind me were three children on their way to school. Even though it was quite cold and blustery, they were not dressed for the cold.” She knew the mother had several children out of wedlock, had been married and divorced twice, and was now contemplating her third marriage.
“I thought of her only with a sense of pity while despising her weakness. I had never before thought of her as a mother who was struggling to provide for her family. I realized that her third marriage likely held little hope for her and the children. But, on the other hand, maybe here was someone who might care for her and the children and help them get the necessities of life. Then I realized that circumstances had made it almost impossible for me to empathize with this woman. I would never be in her position, since I have a profession of nursing, and if the Lord were to call my husband home today, I would be working within a week to provide for myself and my little girl. I would never have to make the same choices that this woman had to make, so how could I possibly judge her?”
One could point her to Christ and make an effort to help with her material needs, but certainly not condemn and judge her. So then the question is: Why do we condemn and harshly criticize? Is it because we do not want to get involved with the lives and needs of other people? It is so much easier to brush them off with the denouncement of their particular sin or weakness. Getting involved hurts and may require us to care and to give. In Ephesians 4:32, the apostle Paul wrote, And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Jesus did not condone sin, but when the woman taken in adultery was brought to Him He did not say, “You are a wicked woman.” She knew that already. He did not shame her in front of those who condemned her. What He did say to her was, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. He helped her. It is true, like we, she did not deserve help; but Christ came to bring the light of Life. He manifested it as He reached out to others.
The woman caught in the act of adultery was not the same after her encounter with Christ. I believe that she was transformed by the power of God the very moment Jesus confronted her with His grace. She had never met anyone so loving, so tender , so kind. Everybody else had exploited her, criticized her, and used her for selfish purposes. But Christ reached out and helped her. This is what Christ’s followers ought to be doing at all times. We are quick to judge people, thinking we know what they should do; but are we really helping them to do it? We need to ask God to give us understanding hearts and minds, not to judge people but to do our very best to help them. It is so easy to get involved in our own way of life, to see only the things we need, and the things that satisfy us, yet to overlook those who have severe and immediate needs.
If we major on our own problems they will increase. The more we talk about our troubles, the worse they will become. But if we reach out and help other people, we lighten our own burdens. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men (Galatians 6:10).
A rich lady who had a long list of ailments sent for a London doctor. “I quite understand your case,” said the physician, “and I will write out a prescription for you. Follow it carefully.” He proceeded to write it, folded it up, gave it to the patient, and left the room. The prescription read, “Do something for somebody.” Many people who are burdened with cares and troubles, and in many cases physical ailments, would be cured in a hurry if only they would do something for somebody. If they would stop living for themselves and begin living for others as Jesus taught us, their cloudy spirits would radiate with the sunshine of God’s love.
Are you living in a little world all of your own: everything is interpreted in the light of how it benefits me? If you are, you are a miserable person. You are bound up and rolled up in yourself. With an attitude like this, you are bound to be unhappy. Do something for somebody. Let the light of Christ shine through you.
Maybe the light of Christ is not in you. Everything good begins with Christ. Receive Him as your Savior and Lord, and then serve Him by helping others.
J. Allen Blair
Assurance of Salvation
We're convinced that when Jesus said, And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand, in John 10:28, that it is literally life that will never end from the moment of acceptance. What do you believe? Dr. Blair's tract, offered free this month will help you think about this. Ask for We Can Be Sure when you write, call or email Glad Tidings. It is good to contact us now and then to let us know you are listening and praying for the ministry and you'll get a free printed message as a bonus!
Put God First
by Pastor Geoffrey Janes
After 50 years of Babylonian captivity, the Jewish Nation was allowed to return to its homeland and begin rebuilding. Led by Zechariah the prophet, the Israelites did return to Israel, and began rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. They also went to work on the Temple, the dwelling place of God. After two years, the foundation was complete, and the people began to rejoice! Opposing nations heard this rejoicing and became afraid of the Israelites. The Israelites also became afraid and stopped rebuilding the temple.
After 16 years of inactivity, the Lord sent Haggai the prophet to get the people moving again. Haggai asked the people, Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate?” The people had been striving for their own good, storing up, building up, and trying to become great on their own. But God through Haggai rebukes the people, telling them that the reason they fail is because they have put God in second place.
In our own lives, it is easy to slack off, putting God off, putting work, fun or even family in a more important place than our personal relationship with God. As we progress through this New Year, may you be challenged, as the people of Israel were challenged, to put God’s plan ahead of your own personal desires. You will never be as successful on your own as you will be when you put God first in your life.
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What Follows Death
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How To Live Without Worry
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