"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love" - I John 4:7-8 (NIV).
"Why don't you visit your Aunt!" The mother asked her daughter on a call. "She says that she rarely sees you yet she loves you!"
"The reason I rarely visit Aunt is because she is so jugdemental," replied the daughter. "Everytime I visit her I feel she is judging me- my hair, my friends, my decisions..If judging is what she calls love then I don't know!"
There can sometimes be a thin line when it comes to judging and love. Of course there are certain and quite obvious actions which one must judge. When the Pharisees brought to Jesus a woman who had been caught in adultery after rebuking them, he bent down to the woman and declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin" (John 8:11). Clearly, adultery was a life style which the Lord would not condone.
However, there was something about the attitude of the Pharisees who were apparently more eager to judge and condemn the adulterous woman than restore her to grace. They must have been disappointed when Jesus let her off the hook. Paul would clarify the matter better when he later wrote, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.." (Romans 8:1).
Going back to the Aunt and the niece is that the relationship has thawed because one feels always condemned. Who of us would be eager to visit someone who seems always quick to find us at fault! But if we know that this person is more interested in showing love to us, than putting us in the right place, one can easily look forward to the visit. It will be uplifting.
As believers other than centering on being judgmental like the Pharisees, the Apostle Peter has advised us, "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins" (I Peter 4:8)
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I pray that with the help of the Holy Spirit I am more loving than judgmental, for love covers a multitude of wrongs, this I pray in Jesus's name.
Related upcoming events
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29/04/2024 - 30/04/2024 All day“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27)
One of the most moving Christian song ever written is, “Its well with my soul!” To hear it sung in cathedrals, concerts or at funerals, always leaves many with goose bumps. It has uplifted many through the most difficult of moments, soothing their weary spirit.
It’s coming into being in many ways show how God so often uses difficult situations to bless so many. In 1871 Horatio Spafford, was one of the wealthiest lawyers, based in Chicago. He was also a devout Christian, along with his wife Ann, and their four daughters. But early in 1871 came the Great Fire of Chicago that destroyed Spafford’s sizable investment.
Devastated from the loss, Spafford, seeking to recover, two years later, decided to go for a holiday in Europe. But at the last minute he was detained by business, letting Ann and his four daughters to proceed, hoping to join them. No sooner had they left when the ship in which they were had an accident and sank within minutes. All the four children drowned, though Anna survived.
Spafford on receiving the news decided to go and pick up Ann. As he got to the spot where the ship had sunk, in his despair came the words that have brought respite to so many, through generations. “When peace like a river attendeth my way. When sorrows like sea billows roll Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say It is well, it is well with my soul... Let this blest assurance control That Christ (yes, He has) has regarded my helpless estate, And has shed His own blood for my soul. It is well...With my soul..
It is well, it is well with my soul.”It is said as Ann saw her daughters going down, she said, “God gave me four daughters. Now they have been taken from me. Someday I will understand.” And, indeed, “It is well with my soul” was God’s gift to all of mankind through a tragedy.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of heaven, sometimes through tragedies, it is difficult to understand or appreciate the moment; but as the song goes, whatever the difficulty may be, “Its well with my soul” for you are with me, no matter! This I pray in Jesus’ name!
