Verse of the day: Joshua 22:22-23 “The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, He knows, and let Israel itself know—if it is in rebellion, or if in treachery against the LORD, do not save us this day. 23 If we have built ourselves an altar to turn from following the LORD, or if to offer on it burnt offerings or grain offerings, or if to offer peace offerings on it, let the LORD Himself require an account.”
How often have we been on the receiving end of someone judging our intentions way too quickly? How often have we admittedly done the same to someone else, much to our shame? A quick reaction to what we think another person’s intentions are is a great way to ruin any relationship. It is a recipe for division in a local church, and a good way to discourage others and cause them to walk away from fellowship with other believers, and even the Lord (sadly). The children of Israel, in hearing that the children of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, built a great and impressive altar to the LORD, jumped to the conclusion that they were building an altar for the purpose of idol worship. Rather than inquire about their intentions, and giving them the benefit of the doubt, the children of Israel immediately prepared themselves to go to war against their own brethren. As commendable as it was that they did not want any part of idol worship, and were willing to eradicate the situation, should it be necessary, they were wrong in being so rash in their reaction. Far too often, we allow ourselves to get angry and immediately react in our displeasure to something someone has said or done, without stopping to consider that we may be wrong in our estimation of what is really going on. It is for this reason that the Lord tells us to be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath, in James 1:19. While we are called to be a discerning people (to be able to effective judge a matter), we are called not to be judgmental. We can use discernment to determine what might be happening in a particular situation. However, before we act or react, we should remember that whatever the situation is, we are to reach out to the other person for the purpose of helping them get back to the right place, if in fact they are straying from the LORD or His truth (Galatians 6:1-3). Jesus said in John 5:26-27, “For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.” James 4:11-12 clearly tells us, “Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?” Before even hearing the matter from the children of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh, and asking them what their intentions were in building the altar, they had already judged in their hearts that their intentions were evil. Who are we to judge what is in the heart of another believer? How do we know that it was not of the LORD for them to do what he/she is doing? As someone who has been in law enforcement for many years, the one thing I always keep in mind (because I learned the lesson the hard way) is not everything is always as we perceive it. What I find to be a sad commentary, in respect to judging the actions and intention of others, is that we often judge people for the very same things we are guilty of ourselves. I will leave you with this thought from Romans 2:1-3, “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?”
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
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