We are not born knowing right from wrong. When we are born in this world, some of us are born in sin because our parents were not married before we were conceived. Does sin reside within us, or does it not? Well, let me answer this question for you. Yes, we all have sinful natures whether born in sin or not. While we are growing up learning about the things around us, we see things that ought not to be happening, such as people killing other people for whatever reason. We grow up listening to gossip, whether true or false, but we also hear people judging others for whatever reason. The question is, who are we to judge another person for their actions or decisions? We do not have the right to do that, but we do not realize that we also will be judged by the One who created us. We all know what the Word of God says about judging others, and this is what it says:

DO NOT JUDGE: MATTHEW 7:1-6

“Judge not, that you be not judged. “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? “Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me remove the speck from your eye”; and look a plank is in your own eye. “Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Do not give what is holy unto the dogs, do not cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

SEEING OUR OWN SINS

Do we ever think about our own sins while trying to see someone else’s sins? Do we ever think about the things that we have done wrong to someone, or what we have said to hurt someone’s feelings? How can we tell someone what to do or not to do when we don’t take our own advice? We are just as bad as they were back then. No one is perfect. We do not have the right to judge anyone. We need to examine ourselves before we open up our mouth to say anything about someone else. God did not give us the permission to do His job! This is what we need to do. We need to treat others how we want to be treated, and speak to one another how we want to be spoken to. We should treat one another how we want to be treated. We should love one another just as Jesus told us to do. I know it is hard to do when you have been judged by someone who says that they love you. God tells us to love our enemies and to pray for them. I know that is hard to do too, but we can ask God to give us the strength to do it because He loves them. We do not want to walk around with hate in our heart for people just because they have wronged us. We must learn to forgive so we can have peace within ourselves. When we are carrying things that should have been let go of, it makes our spirit heavy. It feels like the whole world is sitting on our shoulders.

The point of this message is: DO NOT JUDGE OTHERS IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE JUDGED!

This message was shared in love. As always, stay safe, stay blessed, and thank you for joining me on my journey with Food for the Soul.

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Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith.”

—Genesis 22:1

In their later years, God blessed Abraham and Sarah with a child, Isaac, whose name means “laughter.”

Isaac was a physical representation of everything sacred to Abraham’s heart, the covenants that God made. He was the physical link to the coming Messiah. And Abraham watched this little child grow into a young boy and then into a strong young man.

We don’t know for certain, but perhaps Isaac began to fill the spot that Abraham had previously reserved for God, because the Bible tells us that God tested Abraham.

God said to him, “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you” (Genesis 22:2 NLT).

Even then, Abraham had his priorities right. He was willing to give up Isaac to the Lord, believing that, if necessary, He would resurrect him from the dead. Of course, we know the rest of the story. At the last moment, God spared Isaac.

And Abraham passed the test.

In his book The Pursuit of God, A. W. Tozer commented, “To the wondering patriarch [God] now says in effect, ‘It’s all right, Abraham. I never intended that you should actually slay the lad. I only wanted to remove him from the temple of your heart that I might reign unchallenged there.’ ”

Could it be that someone has become an idol in your life? Is there someone who is more precious to you than God Himself?

It isn’t that God would take this individual away as much as He wants to rule and reign in your heart.

The Bible gives us God’s reflection about how the people of Israel once pursued Him. God said, “I remember how eager you were to please me as a young bride long ago, how you loved me and followed me even through the barren wilderness” (Jeremiah 2:2 NLT).

In other words, “Remember how it was when we were still in the honeymoon phase, in the early days?”

He continues, “For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me—the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!” (verse 13 NLT).

Their first mistake was withdrawing from Him, the fountain of living waters, the One who could satisfy their deepest needs. And then it was only a matter of time until they found broken cisterns, wells dug in the rocks that couldn’t hold water.

Let’s heed the warning of Scripture to believers living in the last days. Let’s refuse to allow anyone or anything to become idols in our hearts. The best antidote to idolatry is a passionate love relationship with Jesus Christ. When He is the Lord of our lives and we’re cultivating fellowship with Him, we won’t run after other gods.

Any pursuit you go after that takes God’s place in your life won’t satisfy you. Let Him be your Lord. Let Him be your God.

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When I was a boy, the schoolyard was where bullies threw their weight around and kids like me received that bullying with minimal protest. As we cowered in fear before our tormenters, there was something even worse: their taunts of “Are you scared? You’re afraid of me, aren’t you? There’s no one here to protect you.”

In fact, most of those times I really was frightened—and with good cause. Having been punched in the past, I knew I didn’t want to experience that again. So, what could I do and whom could I trust when I was stricken with fear? When you’re eight years old and being bullied by a kid who is older, bigger, and stronger, the fear is legitimate. 

When the psalmist faced attack, he responded with confidence rather than fear—because he knew he didn’t face those threats alone. He wrote, “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Psalm 118:6). As a boy, I’m not sure I would have been able to understand his level of confidence. As an adult, however, I’ve learned from years of walking with Christ that He’s greater than any fear-inducing threat.

The threats we face in life are real. Yet we need not fear. The Creator of the universe is with us, and He’s more than enough.

By Bill Crowder

REFLECT & PRAY

What are you fearing today? Ask God for His presence, comfort, and protection for whatever you’re facing.

Father, thank You that You’re with me and that I can trust You in those moments to see me through by Your grace.

For further study, read When Fear Seems Overwhelming: Finding Courage and Hope.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

Psalm 118 is the last of six psalms (Psalms 113–118) known as the “Egyptian Hallel.” The Israelites used this collection of psalms in the Passover celebration. “Egyptian” is a reference to when “Israel came out of Egypt” (114:1; see Exodus 6:6–7), and Hallel means praise. Psalms 113–114 are sung before the Passover meal and Psalms 115–118 afterward.

Psalm 118 is the second most-quoted psalm in the New Testament (Psalm 110 is the first). When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the crowds shouted the words of Psalm 118:26, proclaiming Jesus as the king to free them from Roman bondage (Matthew 21:9; Mark 11:9; Luke 19:38; John 12:13). Christ quoted Psalm 118:22–23 in the parable of the tenants (Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10–11; Luke 20:17). Peter cited these same verses in Acts 4:11 and 1 Peter 2:7, and Paul alludes to them in Ephesians 2:20–21. Hebrews 13:6 quotes from Psalm 118:6.K. T. Sim