UGH! The framework of Judgement… the idea that we are measuring others against our own standard of measurement while we are actively measuring ourselves against someone else’s standard of measurement.

Did you catch that? It’s like me casting judgement on you for not loading the dishwasher the same way I would while at the same time giving myself a pass for not keeping my house dusted the way so-in-so does. Uh-huh, we all do it, but why do we do it? Because it’s easy to see how YOU are guilty but hard to admit that I AM guilty, too. So what should be our standard?

Wait… no one is perfect, right? Doesn’t the bible tell us in the book of Romans that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God? Isn’t Jesus the only one who was ever perfect?

Fixing our eyes on the face of Jesus can be a scary thing knowing He the only one who has ever lived a perfect life. Is the look on His face over us one of judgement or scorn? Here’s a secret – Father God did not send His Son Jesus into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:17).

WHAAAAAT? What about the passage that talks about being judged for all of our works?

That kind of judgement, known as the final judgement, comes after death (see Hebrews 9:27 and Revelation 20:13). But until that moment comes for each one of us, we all have access to the gift of salvation that shifts personal judgement of our own guilt and sin away from us and onto Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us (see Galatians 1:4 and 2 Corinthians 5:21 as examples).

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.
1 Corinthians 4:5

So if Jesus is not busy judging or condemning me, what expression does He have on His face then when He looks at me?

That’s a question you may want to ask Him personally, for it can be one of many beautiful things – desire, passion, delight, encouragement, compassion, mercy, peace, tenderness, forgiveness…

Forgiveness. That is a big one when it comes to judgement. A person who doesn’t forgive sets themselves in a place of judgement on behalf of (or over) Christ. It would be equivalent of telling Jesus “move over, I know better than you how to judge this person“. Yeah, NO, not this kid! I think I will leave all that to Him and choose to freely forgive instead, the way HE has forgiven ME!

We miss so much by shutting others off and out of our lives when we choose to judge them instead of love them. May I never reject a truth because it was spoken by someone I disagree with.

Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  – Romans 8:33-35

That’s just a portion of that passage. The really exciting part comes after:

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:37-39

Okay, so what do I do when I know a thing or two about this person?

What are we doing with the information we have received? Will we choose to worship, or will we choose to dishonor?

Too often we judge out of speculation and hear-say, giving the enemy fodder that sets traps, causes offense and chaos – especially when we choose to use it unwisely. But there are also times when Jesus may choose to share insights with us about others. If He does, the voice we hear will never be one of judgement or condemnation, and the call to action will not be to share, but to pray!

Worship and intercession go hand-in-glove. Intercession means we take the insights we have received and grab ‘hold of the mind of Christ for the one whom we are praying for. Have we comprehended how He is interceding for them, so we can join our prayer with His?

By His grace we can move mountains on behalf of others and be set free from the traps the enemy uses to ensnare us with. The choice is ours.