Ah, judgment. Paul appeals to all of us in this chapter. How often do I find myself looking down on someone or inwardly accusing, blaming others. Only to later make excuses/justify my own behavior. This reminds me of when Jesus said, you point out the speck in your brothers eye though you have a beam in your own. Verse 11 is a sobering reminder: there is no partiality with God.
The end of the Chapter is Paul's reminder to us all - make sure your faith is inward and not outward. "...circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God". How can we apply this to our Christianity?
WRT judgement - isn't it also true that what we frown upon in others is likely a weakness that we struggle with ourselves? When I find myself frowning upon someone's behavior or attitude - I have to ask myself if my discontent is really a result of my own behaviors and attitudes rather than that individual. We are so quick to judge, too slow to love, and seem to always see ourselves as the exception.
ReplyDeleteCircumcision is the "label" of being Jewish. What good is a label if the bottle holds something else? How disappointing would it be to have a Mexican Coke bottle that really contained diet root beer? Are we appearing to be Christians by checking in on facebook or bragging about volunteering at the shelter, or are we truly followers of Christ who are able to love the most difficult to love?