Judge Not Yourselves

Judge Not Yourselves

I, Paul, appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ—though I realize you think I am timid in person and bold only when I write from far away.

2 Corinthians 10:1

One of my favorite books about the Amish is Plain Wisdom: An Invitation into an Amish Home and the Hearts of Two Women. It’s written by two women, Cindy Woodsmall and Miriam Flaud—one English and one Amish. They write about their unlikely friendship and how, over the years, the walls between them have broken down. Here’s a bit of Miriam’s description of Cindy’s first visit:

The sound of a push reel mower could be heard from my kitchen window as my son Mark made the last few rounds in the front yard. We had been looking forward to this day for months. . . .

Suddenly I went from being a little nervous to a lot nervous. What if she came all this way and was disappointed not only in my ability to hold a reasonable conversation but also in me as a person? We’d shared letters and long phone conversations, but what if I fell way short of her expectations once we were together?

It’s only natural to worry about what other people think of us. We want approval. We want to fit in. Sometimes we start fretting when we compare ourselves with others—but sometimes we make the comparison with the “real” us and the person we like to portray ourselves to be.

God judges people by what’s in their hearts, not by the coolness of their personalities. Acts 10:34-36 puts it this way: “Peter fairly exploded with his good news: ‘It’s God’s own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. The Message he sent to the children of Israel—that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again—well, he’s doing it everywhere, among everyone’” (The Message).

God is no respecter of persons, and He wants you to be the same, even with yourself.

Dear heavenly Father, sometimes the person I’m the hardest on is me. Please help me to offer myself the same grace that You give to me.