Matthew 7:1 “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.
Non-Christians love this one. I suspect you have heard it or maybe used it before. The majority of people have mistranslated this verse. It does not say to NOT judge. Please stick with me and let me explain.
To understand and apply this verse to everyday life, you must also read the next verse. Matthew 7: 2 For with the judgment you make, you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. If you want to apply this scripture, you must be willing to apply the same standards to your life as you are holding someone else. To put it in modern terms: don’t ever be guilty of telling someone: Do as I say, not as I do. If my child drinks too much, I will talk to them. If they throw up the don’t judge line: that is fine. My answer: No, the Bible says I should be ready to be judged by God for the same thing I am judging you. I don’t drink, so yes, I am willing to be held to the same standard. Then, discuss the addiction with the person you love in love, grace, and patience.
Non-Christians love this one. I suspect you have heard it or maybe used it before. The majority of people have mistranslated this verse. It does not say to NOT judge. Please stick with me and let me explain.
To understand and apply this verse to everyday life, you must also read the next verse. Matthew 7: 2 For with the judgment you make, you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. If you want to apply this scripture, you must be willing to apply the same standards to your life as you are holding someone else. To put it in modern terms: don’t ever be guilty of telling someone: Do as I say, not as I do. If my child drinks too much, I will talk to them. If they throw up the don’t judge line: that is fine. My answer: No, the Bible says I should be ready to be judged by God for the same thing I am judging you. I don’t drink, so yes, I am willing to be held to the same standard. Then, discuss the addiction with the person you love in love, grace, and patience.
Isaiah 43:18-19 - Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
So how do I apply this idea of “becoming new” in Christ? I love the answer given by C.S. Lewis in his book Mere Christianity. He said, “Every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you into something different from what it was before…”
Once you accept Jesus into your life, your choices should change from ones that focus on you and your wants to ones that reflect the right choices in Christ and for others. Does my choice harm someone? Does my choice show that I care about this person or just about myself? Is this the choice I would want someone to make if it was about me? Did I choose to use vulgar language or words of patience? How did I approach today’s problems, questions, and people I met today? Was I displaying the love of Christ, or did I make the same choices the old me use to make? There are many other questions you could add to these. They are just starter questions to help you better understand how we begin being made new in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
So how do I apply this idea of “becoming new” in Christ? I love the answer given by C.S. Lewis in his book Mere Christianity. He said, “Every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you into something different from what it was before…”
Once you accept Jesus into your life, your choices should change from ones that focus on you and your wants to ones that reflect the right choices in Christ and for others. Does my choice harm someone? Does my choice show that I care about this person or just about myself? Is this the choice I would want someone to make if it was about me? Did I choose to use vulgar language or words of patience? How did I approach today’s problems, questions, and people I met today? Was I displaying the love of Christ, or did I make the same choices the old me use to make? There are many other questions you could add to these. They are just starter questions to help you better understand how we begin being made new in Christ.