Posted on April 21, 2024 Posted By: HCCCategories: journey
Heartland Community Church
THE JOURNEY
Humility and Judgement
by Lisa Zulke
Today took me back to when I was acutely aware of my mistakes and the weight of my need for grace and forgiveness. The canyon between me and following Jesus seemed too far to cross. One particular teaching had struck me like lightning and washed over me like a soothing, cleansing rain. I stepped out in fear to learn more about this Jesus and the hope he could bring.
My first attempts at finding him were a mixed bag, as I bumped into Christians who felt the need to judge and condemn me. Ironically, at that very moment, I was seeking companions to walk with me into and through the canyon ahead; these followers of Jesus could only see the wrongs in my past. I eventually found trusted journeyers to show me Jesus. To this day, I am still peeling back the layers of the hurt caused by those whose fast-twitch muscles were to judge and isolate.
I recall my early days of seeking and following Jesus as often as possible, so I don’t lose my lens of grace and my resonance with the very being who gives it freely. You see, I am prone to judge, too. And I don’t want to sit in that seat…in God’s seat. He is the judge; I am not. I exist to show people what is possible if they find and follow Jesus. My job is to walk so closely with him that I look out at the crowds, harassed and helpless, with the compassion I first saw in Jesus’ eyes.
In Matthew 7:3-5 we are encouraged to first deal with the log in our own eye, before telling our friends to get the speck out of theirs. How can I rinse my eyes of debris? How can I clear my sight so I can see with compassion the people in my life seeking a different way of living?
When I am able to move from judgement to a posture of humility I am better able to meet people where they are at (in life and in politics). I don’t have to convince them, change them, or save them. God does all of these things. I GET to be part of what God is doing as he invites me into situations and teaches me how to love my coworker, friend or neighbor.
How have you wrestled with the temptation to judge versus the call to love your neighbor? As you consider politics and faith, how much does your faith in Jesus inform your engagement? How does the resurrection of Jesus encourage you to love your neighbors via political engagement?
Make a list of the things the Pharisees point out or ask of Jesus. Now, make a list of the things Jesus reflects back to them. Where can you locate yourself most on these two lists? Where is your perspective most like Jesus’, and where is it lining up with the Pharisees? Write out a prayer for the areas you need Jesus’ help in turning toward him; in seeing the world through his eyes.
Where am I tempted to look at other’s faults, flaws and sins? Why is it so easy to see these things in other people, and so hard to admit they also live in me? Where do I need greater self-awareness? How can I invite Jesus into my life closely enough to point out the plank in my own eye?
How can I become more open and transparent with others? How can I practice directly asking for what I need? How can I choose humility, or humbling myself, while setting aside my fear of rejection or judgement?
Define the difference between discernment and judgement. What might it look like, to discern right from wrong, vs judging someone’s actions as right or wrong? Who ultimately is in the judgement seat? Think of one way you can remind yourself of this truth when you catch yourself drifting toward judgement.
{extra journey resources}
CLICK HERE to visit The Bible Project site and explore their super simple, super informative Bible videos (and other resources). You can also download The Bible Project App HERE.
CLICK HERE to get the Read Scripture App, from our friends at The Bible Project.
CLICK HERE for more on how to use the observe-reflect-apply approach to getting the most out of your Bible reading.
The Bible App Get the free YouVersion Bible for your phone, tablet, or computer. Experience the Bible anywhere, with options to highlight, save notes, and share what you are reading with others.
The Bible App For Kids YouVersion partnered with OneHope to develop the Bible App for Kids, designing it specifically to engage children with Bible stories on an age-appropriate level. The Bible App for Kids is a free app for Android, Apple, and Kindle devices, available in over 60 languages.
Bible Gateway Provides advanced Bible searching capabilities, which allow readers to find passages in scripture based on keywords, phrases, or scripture reference.
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