TGIF
This week, God has taken His time placing His desired message on my heart. When challenged like this, I often go back and review daily devotional messages that I have marked as potential TGIF topics. This week, that review has led me to a message from May 8 of my Max Lucado devotional Grace For The Moment. I have decided that this is the message God has placed on my heart for this week.
The title of this devotional is Get Out of the Judgment Seat. The scripture Max chose to start this devotional is:
Matthew 7:2 – You will be judged in the same way that you judge others.
Max then writes We condemn a man for stumbling this morning, but we didn’t see the blows he took yesterday. We judge a woman for the limp in her walk, but cannot see the tack in her shoe. We mock the fear in their eyes, but have no idea how many stones they have ducked or darts they have dodged.
Are they too loud? Perhaps they fear being neglected again. Are they too timid? Perhaps they fear failing again. Too slow? Perhaps they fell the last time they hurried. You don’t know. Only one who has followed yesterday’s steps can be their judge.
Not only are we ignorant about yesterday, we are ignorant about tomorrow. Dare we judge a book while chapters are yet unwritten? Should we pass a verdict on a painting while the artist still holds the brush? How can you dismiss a soul until God’s work is complete? God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure He will continue it until it is finished when Jesus comes again. (Phil. 1:6).
In today’s society, we can easily be overwhelmed with TMI – Too Much Information. If we choose, we can be overwhelmed by social media, “expert” podcasters on any topic, and many news media shows competing for your attention. We can become consumed with conflicting information, some indicating evil to be good, and good to be evil. Indeed, it seems that today’s world is trying to convince us that up is down! Indeed, what are we to do?
The answer is clearly to follow God’s Word in the book that has more copies by far available to us than any other book in the history of the world and provides God’s messages to us with great clarity, completeness, and consistency. Follow God’s Word, pray, and go to church, and I believe you will be just fine when your judgment day arrives! Amen!
Please note that Cindy and I will be gone the next two weeks to visit our children and grandchildren in DC, so I will not be sending out any messages during that time. Be blessed!