Thought for the Day - Monday 14 September

 Thought for the Day – Monday 14^th September

‘You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’” So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. ’ (Romans 14: 10-13)

 

Just how well do you know those around you? How well do you know your family and friends, your work colleagues, those who come to church or sit beside you?

 Isn’t it amazing that no matter how much we think we know someone that sometimes when having a conversation with them something will arise which casts a whole new light on them, we discover things about them we previously did not know or we are subjected to a whole different side of their nature or character. Sometimes in our talking we can then understand more fully why someone behaves in the way they do or feels compelled to hide something about themselves or get a deeper sense of who they actually are as a person.

 I always think these moments can be deeply humbling, at times even over-whelming and at the same time embarrassing because we can come to realise in an instant through a simple conversation just how we have made judgements about that person when actually we did not have all the facts of their life before us.    

 I suppose conversely it bring us to a point of realisation that if we can be guilty of judging others in such a way, of making assumptions about them, of coming to conclusions for why they might behave in such and such a way, then it is just possible that we too may also be being judged in a similar way by others!

 Hence, our warning from Paul, and incidentally many others in scripture too, we must ‘stop passing judgement on one another’ and instead leave that to God when we are called to give an account of ourselves before him.

 

Prayer

 

Loving Lord,

We give you all thanks and praise, with every knee bowed and every tongue giving you praise, for in you is extravagant mercy and true salvation from all that would destroy us. Lord, when we are tempted to make assumptions, to have preconceived ideas about someone, to be judgemental in our thoughts, we ask that you would keep us from such temptation and remind us anew that it is you and you alone who shall be the judge of lives. Give to us a compassionate, understanding heart that is ready to get to know and fully accept those around us. We ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.