“Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged. For you will be judged by the same standard with which you judge others, and you will be measured by the same measure you use.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭CSB‬‬

It’s so easy to walk around judging other people. In some ways, we were created to judge. We were given instincts to instantly determine whether someone was a threat or not with just a glance or a sound. And with those same instincts I judge whether I should flee or stay and fight. Am I faster or stronger than my attacker?

Without this ability to judge, I would be very vulnerable in this fallen, treacherous world.

But then I take my ability to judge farther, well beyond its intended purpose. Even after I’ve assessed the threat level, I keep judging, certainly getting less and less accurate as I go. Based on that same glance, I decide I am better looking or wealthier or more honest or smarter or just a better person.

And once I’ve made those snap judgments, they are hard to change. The person I’ve judged is now guilty until proven innocent. If I’ve decided that someone I meet at a party is conceited and greedy based on their clothes or the way they stand, they will have to do something self-deprecating and generous to change my mind.

Is this how I want people to treat me? Absolutely not!

In today’s verse, Jesus warns me that is exactly what will happen. If I make snap judgments about people, I will be judged with equal nonchalance:

God says, “You cannot come to my party because you are ungrateful.”

I say, “What?! No! I’m very grateful. Please let me come in.”

God: “You don’t look grateful.”

Me: “What do you mean?”

God: “I don’t know. You just look entitled, like you think you deserve the beautiful things I made.”

Me: “When did I look like that?! I am very thankful. Thank you! I love this world you made for me!”

God: “Hm. We’ll see. You’ll have to prove you are grateful. Because you still don’t look very grateful.”

Dear God,

Please forgive me for judging people without knowing them. Please don’t judge me that way. Please give me the benefit of the doubt and teach me to extend that to others. Please give me a second (and third and fourth… and 967th) chance and teach me how to forgive others as well. Please judge me fairly. Actually, don’t judge me fairly because I deserve punishment. Instead, please judge me in a way that always ends with me being found innocent! And give me the wisdom and grace to judge others that way as well.