[Membersandfriends] Monday, November 29, 2004

Sun Nov 28 22:01:26 PST 2004

The Upper Room Daily Devotional -- E-mail Edition
Brought to You by Upper Room Ministries
Monday, November 29, 2004

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WHO AM I TO JUDGE?
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Romans 2:1-4 (NRSV)

Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. You say, "We know that God's judgment on those who do such things is in accordance with truth." Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

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Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God?
- Romans 2:3 (NRSV)
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FOR our weekly Bible study, we were reading Paul's letter to the Romans, and when I started reading chapter two I felt a distinct sting of rebuke.  Paul had written about judging one another, and that passage spoke directly to my heart.  While reading those words I could hear myself at previous Bible studies, judging the Israelites for complaining to Moses during their years in the wilderness.  "I can't understand it," I remember saying to the group.  "After all the miracles they witnessed, how could the Israelites lose their faith and complain about their difficulties?"

But after reading Paul's words to the Romans, I had to ask myself, In times of crises, am I not prone to live in the moment?  Do I not tend to forget my many blessings and give in to worry and fear?  Who am I to judge?

The opening words of Romans, chapter two, have encouraged me not to judge those around me.  I still lapse, but these verses comfort me with the assurance of God's "kindness, tolerance and patience."

Prayer:   God of compassion, help us not to judge one another.  Help us to remember that we all lapse at times and that you understand and will forgive us.  Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
When we judge others, we reveal our own imperfection.

-- Ruby Truax (Ontario, Canada)

PRAYER FOCUS: Someone I have judged

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RELATED READING ...

Ideal for individual or group study during any time of the year, THE WORKBOOK ON THE CHRISTIAN WALK leads persons to explore discipleship more deeply. This book emphasizes faithfulness as persons seek to follow Christ more closely.
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The scripture quotation is from the NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION of the Bible, copyright (c) 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.