Beautiful Word Devotional #212

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

Luke 6:37

Here, Jesus issued three commands: “Don’t judge. Don’t condemn. Do forgive.” And the result of your obedience? You won’t be judged. You won’t be condemned. You will be forgiven.

First, Jesus called us to not criticize, look for others’ sins, or put ourselves in the place of God and pronounce someone guilty. The judgment of human souls is God’s job and his alone. We are not to judge, but we are to humbly and wisely exercise discernment about the behavior of our brothers and sisters and then enact church discipline when necessary.

Similarly, we are not to condemn. We can come alongside a Christ follower whose behavior concerns us, but we cannot know that person’s heart. Only God can, so only he is in a position to condemn.

We are, however, to forgive, to—like Jesus—extend grace, forgive those who hurt us, and glorify God as we do so. Jesus gave his life to secure our forgiveness so we should forgive others.

Lord, help me to stop judging and condemning others. Enable me to forgive, amen.