By: Denise Pass © 6/9/14

I Corinthians 4:3-5

“So for me, it is a minor matter that I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not acquitted because of this. The one who judges me is the Lord. So then, do not judge anything before the time. Wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the motives of hearts. Then each will receive recognition from God.”

You know the feeling – it’s a stare and sudden looking away that leaves you with a distinct impression that you are being shunned. You are not adequate. At once you remember the guilt of your actions, or perhaps are aware of the slander spoken about you.  In that moment you can feel inferior and labeled.

The problem is, you don’t really know for certain that the individual is in fact judging you, but you act as though it were fact.

Well, what if it were fact?  What if instead you acknowledged whatever conviction (not guilt) that you were feeling?  What then?  Instead of denying even the false rumors, perhaps real freedom comes from humbly admitting that while their perception might not be true, certainly there are some things in me that are not praiseworthy.

Then comes liberty. There is no longer judgment in my failures. No more worrying about other people’s perceptions or judgments. We are aware of some of our shortcomings, though we are all myopic and incapable of seeing them all. Our Lord knew that man’s opinion was not trustworthy. ”  But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people.”  There is amazing freedom when we know we are guilty and not perfect, but accepted in His sight!  I am free!  I am not condemned.

We all know we are not supposed to judge others, but how about ourselves? Isn’t it liberating that we are not qualified to judge even ourselves? We can think ourselves righteous or a martyr when we beat ourselves up for our weaknesses, but, in fact, it is legalism which is not godly at all.

Lastly, if we can realize that focusing on the perfect One instead of focusing on trying to make ourselves look perfect to everyone else, it is liberation for our souls. Replace the description of us with God’s description of us.

Let go of worrying about false perceptions and thinking of self and lay that burden at His feet.  He is your Defender and our lives are hidden in Him.

Lord, help us to stop judging ourselves or others and to not allow anyone to judge us but You alone. You are the perfect, righteous Judge and I thank you that you shape my weaknesses to make me more like you.