I was spending some quiet time with God in worship over the weekend when God brought a person to mind. I don’t know them personally, but they were praise and worship leaders I used to listen to daily over twenty years ago. I had stopped listening to them when I heard they had fallen into sin.
I know the bible says we must know them by their fruits; however, today, God showed me something insightful – at least for me.
When the Lord spoke his name to me, I knew He would show me something I needed to deal with in my heart. I searched for the person online and then on YouTube. Eventually, I watched an hour segment of this person leading worship. It was excellent and very anointed.
I began talking to the Lord as He showed me that I had held offense and unforgiveness about this person I didn’t even know. I didn’t know his story. I didn’t know his heart, and I only knew what I had heard.
As I sat there in worship, I repented of the offense and judgmental attitude I had for all those years. A weight lifted, and I continued to worship. Hours later, I would read about this person to learn more. Not only had they repented, but they had set themselves apart for over two years to spend time with God alone and engage in God’s restoration. Who was I to judge when I had no personal access to their life?
Why did I share this? As a warning to others. There is so much exposure going on, and yes, I agree that some things must be exposed. But be careful when judging what you do not have personal knowledge of.
As the Bible says, guard your heart with all diligence for out of it flow the issues of life.
The Amplified says it like this; Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.
If the life of God is to continue to flow through us, we must guard our hearts. We must be careful not to judge what we honestly don’t know the facts of. We must be cautious with what words we put out there, especially on social media – don’t align yourself with anything God would not want you aligned with.
There is so much anger and offense online right now – you genuinely don’t want to engage in that. It only causes more rage and anger and only leads to evil.
I have been pressing into God and asking Him to show me anything in my heart that I need to deal with and repent of. I believe part of that answer is what He showed me that day concerning my heart about this person I didn’t even know yet had judged harshly. Not only harshly but for many years.
God help us all – help us to keep our heart with all diligence. I don’t want anything in my life or my heart that is not pleasing to God.
The Bible is clear.
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. (Mt 7:1-5)
In light of this scripture, I must first make sure I have no log in my eye before I choose to judge another. God help us remove all logs from our eyes so that we may see clearly if there is even a speck in our brother’s eye. This we ask today, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
