Do not judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned yourselves. For just as you judge and criticize and condemn others, you will be judged and criticized and condemned, and in accordance with the measure you [use to] deal out to others, it will be dealt out again to you. Why do you stare from without at the very small particle that is in your brother’s eye but do not become aware of and consider the beam of timber that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, Let me get the tiny particle out of your eye, when there is the beam of timber in your own eye? You hypocrite, first get the beam of timber out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the tiny particle out of your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:1-5
I don’t know about you but when I am feeling like I have failed or I am feeling insecure are the times that I seem to clearly see and focus on the faults of others, misery loves company I guess. Yet when I am at peace with the Truth that it has to be Jesus and His abilities working through me, I find that Grace blocks my seeing the shortcomings of others. When we feel Grace, we freely give Grace. When we don’t feel condemned is when we freely forgive others their sins, even their willful and intentional sins. I believe this is why our Father has me tell people so often that it is God in all of His forms, Father, Holy Spirit, and Jesus that is the power working through us. Because when we don’t have to take thought for what we have to do, then we really have no reason to have any self condemnation.
She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus [the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua, which means Savior], for He will save His people from their sins [that is, prevent them from failing and missing the true end and scope of life, which is God]. Matthew 1:21
So let it be clearly known and understood by you, brethren, that through this Man forgiveness and removal of sins is now proclaimed to you; And that through Him everyone who believes [who [acknowledges Jesus as his Savior and devotes himself to Him] is absolved (cleared and freed) from every charge from which he could not be justified and freed by the Law of Moses and given right standing with God. Acts 13:38-39
THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:1-2
We are assured and know that God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren. And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified (acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself). And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being]. What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?] Romans 8:28-31
The Truth that sets us free is that we are totally and completely dependent on Jesus to make us who we need to be. This is a process, so we can be at peace that He has us right where He wants us to be. Think of a potter, he may be making a bowl and the lump of clay may not look like a bowl yet, but it will. The clay has to be formed and there is nothing wrong with the clay even though it doesn’t look like a bowl yet. Our Father is our Potter and we are His clay. He is responsible in making us what we need to be. This Truth has always empowered me to not be so judgmental, and I can be so judgmental, because I can so easily feel insecure. Believe me when I tell you that I am writing to myself even more so then to others with these blogs.
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