I pray as you read this you are in good spirits. What a wonderful God we serve! There is this big misconception about being judged. I was listening to Paul Washer and he made a statement, "People tell me "judge not lest ye be judged. I always tell them, twist not scripture lest ye be like satan." At first thought I was like, clever come back! Then as I searched the Bible I came across some scriptures and as Christians we have an obligation to judge and be judged. Not in the context to send someone to hell. We are to judge the actions and not the person. Jesus said himself in John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgement. What that scripture indicates is that we are to first correct our actions and make right our walk with Christ, being blameless as possible in our ways. Then judging according to what the scripture says and not hypocritically.
You can't expect anyone to take you serious when they know you're not living the Word. When we are born anew and filled with the Holy Spirit we must not stand by and let someone go astray. There is a right way and a wrong way to go about this. Contrary to belief you can be stern and gentle at the same time. Pulling that person aside and politely and directly correcting their wrong and having an explanation on why you have done so. I use 2 Timothy 4:2 as a reference. God has no joy in seeing the wicked perish, and neither should you. No matter how we feel about the person. I encourage you to examine yourself and your spirit if you feel being concerned about someone lost is problem for you.
1 Corinthians 6 :1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
Main cause for this post is I read Ezekiel 3:17-21, which is powerful passage. I'm begging you to read it and adhere to it. In case you don't, for the sake of brevity it states that you must warn a man wicked or righteous of his iniquity, because if he dies in that sin the blood is on your hands! So spread the Word of God and pray as Paul did for boldness. A question if I may, why wouldn't you warn someone lost? Where you not lost and in need of rebuke from your ways? Judgement rendered by someone who loves you with the intervention of God set you on the narrow road.
It would be utterly selfish to let a soul perish if you can help. Does a fish know that he is wet? Well how can a sinner know if he is sinning if we ( Christians) refuse to tells him. I see too many people who sit and talk about others who are sinning and backsliding a let them be. Even if you know they don't want to hear it, tell them anyway. What bother is it to you other than rejection? If you ever get weary in remember Jesus warned us that we would be rejected; and blessed we are when man hates us for sake of Jesus Christ, because greater is the reward in Heaven. I plead with you to pray for God's wisdom and knowledge so you are able to be of service to all whom you come in contact with. Also be ready to tell them how awesome our God is. Petition with them to repent and to find a church home. I don't know about you but I want everyone to experience what a relationship with God is.
Brothers and sisters in Christ we all have at least one person we are thinking about as we read this. I pray you go and share God's word with them, that they won't perish. Don't let fear or a timid spirit, which you have not, dishearten you. When you are convicted by the Spirit to preach or spread the Word to someone, do so. In future occurrences when convicted, it will become easier to ignore the Spirit and God's will won't be done. Don't assume someone knows right from wrong, you may very well be the first person to help them out or they may be too proud or shameful to ask for help. Sometimes people want to know that those closer to them care about them opposed to hearing it from a stranger or passerby. Martin Luther King stated: Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Be that light that gets someone out the darkness and the love that leads them to God.
I hope you didn't think I was going to end this without informing you of the importance of seeking guidance and counsel of those deeper in faith. Do you? You don't want to be lost like a ball in tall grass. Christians have to seek judgement personally, it is easy to be deceived when we have found God. When we rely solely on our heart we can fall susceptible to deception. Its a daily walk, not a one time thing. Do you think the devils just leave you alone; when you're on that narrow path is when you're important to the devils. Jeremiah 17:9 states: the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: who can know it. Don't act on a feeling alone. That is why we are to constantly pray and consult with God. No Christian is bigger than their prayer. Rid yourself of autonomy, shame and pride. Isaiah 1:17 tells us learn to do well, seek judgement, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless and plead for the widow . We have no chance at being perfect Christians and there is always room for improvement. When others take time to correct you for straying it's because God loves you. He knows you aren't listening and sends someone to give you a warning. Exercise your discernment and keep what is good. Hebrews 13:1-2 Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Now how are you going to explain to God being rude to one of His angels, whom he sent to bless and protect you. In closing, if we consider others before ourselves and love our neighbors as we love ourselves its hard to deviate from what God ask of us. God's blessings and love.
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