Your best judgment
The Sermon on the Mount over and over addresses the issue of self-righteousness. There is a constant refrain of us getting out of our own way in order to see, think, react and live lives towards God in such a way that we embody the image in which we are created, the image of God. Adam was commissioned to be God’s representative on earth, to have dominion over and rule it as God created him. The willful choice to live for himself rather than for God marred the image of God that was to be lived out. And so has sin done in each of us since. The redemption and salvation of Christ Jesus in us restores us to the role and position of ambassadors for Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 tell us, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Often I reference these verses in speaking about sharing the gospel. And while being ambassadors for Christ involves the sharing of the good news of Christ, it is more. Being an ambassador means viewing and relating to others as the King would. This impacts how we look at part of today’s sermon passage, Matthew 7:1-2, where we are told, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” It is God who judges and sets the example of justice and judgment. As His representatives, we are to emulate and take our lead from Him. God’s judgment begins with mercy and grace. In the same way, our judging must be filled with mercy and grace with redemption, restoration and reconciliation as the goal.
In Luke 6:36-38, Jesus tells us, “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Mercy is not our natural default before salvation, but once we are new creations in Christ mercy must become our go-to response. Coming to Christ we beg and understand our need for mercy (and grace). Why would we approach anyone else with anything other than what we realized we desperately needed, wanted and were given?
At some point I ran across the following prayer by Ken Sande that challenges, convicts and encourages me. May it do the same for you.
Help Me to Judge Rightly
Lord, help me to judge others as I want them to judge me: Charitably, not critically, Privately, not publicly, Gently, not harshly, In humility, not pride. Help me to believe the best about others, until facts prove otherwise— To assume nothing, to seek all sides of the story, And to judge no one until I’ve removed the log from my own eye. May I never bring only the Law, to find fault and condemn. Help me always to bring the Gospel, to give hope and deliverance, As you, my Judge and Friend, have so graciously done for me. to find fault and condemn. Help me always to bring the Gospel, to give hope and deliverance, As you, my Judge and Friend, have so graciously done for me.
Pressing on…
Ron Tipton, Senior Pastor
