Do not judge or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Matthew 7:1-2

Judging others has a boomerang effect on our lives. When we judge others, the judgment comes back on us. With the same measure we judge, it will be measured back to us. For example, you may decide never to be like one of your parents, and yet you find that you are doing the same things they did. The judgments that you made against them found a way back to you!

Although we are called to judge between good and evil, we are not to judge a person; only God knows what is in their heart. Sometimes it is easy to be the judge and jury, but only God is the righteous judge. Jesus warned us not to judge because He knew that this is an area of great temptation for all of us.

We judge because we see a speck in someone’s eye and Jesus tells us: Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? (v.3) What we see in other people and judge, God locates in us. We find it easy to judge because we are familiar with the very action that we are judging.

God’s Word tells us that mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:13) Grace sees the sin in someone, mercy sees the misery, and judgment sees neither. Think of someone you have judged. Ask the Lord to give you “kingdom lenses” to see this person as He sees them. Chances are the person you are judging has issues that run deeper than you are able to see.

Man sees the outward appearances; God sees the heart. (I Samuel 16:7) Make a commitment today to leave judgment to God.

Heavenly Father, Help me to see others as You see them. Forgive me where I have judged others harshly. Forgive me where I have judged myself harshly, and lead me in Your mercy. In Jesus’ name, Amen