Day 11 - 40 Days in the Word

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” - Luke 6:36-38 

Like many of Jesus' commands, this one requires that we stay close to Him, the Vine, in order for us to carry this out.  We judge and condemn for so many reasons.  Often our judgments come out of our own hurts and insecurities. We fail to forgive because we feel so slighted.  However, we need to remember our Savior, who was completely humble and not prideful in any way, as we seek to overlook offenses, not judge another person's heart or motivations, etc.  Only our God can know the motivations and heart of another.  When we think we know this, we are stepping into territory that does not, and never has, belonged to us.

Prayer: Father, we repent before You that we have often judged and condemned others.  We ask that You forgive us and that Your Holy Spirit will continue to work in us to help us as we live a life of daily surrender and dependence on You.  We ask that You would help us take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ and that we would release to You whatever relationships or circumstances are causing us to act or think in a way that is contrary to You. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.