"Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. For others will treat you as you treat them. Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged. And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying, `Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log from your own eye, then perhaps you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye." 1 Samuel 16:7
This morning you woke up and the thoughts hit you. Your past...your responsibilities...your successes...your failures...your future... all of these thoughts probably raced through your mind before you took your first sip of coffee. You’ve got stuff on your mind that you don’t know what to do with. You may feel imperfect, challenged, indifferent... or maybe it’s jubilant, elated, and hopeful.
Either way... you are you. The end result of years of choices.
You know what... you aren’t alone. Millions of people open their eyes each morning with the same thoughts, the same hang-ups, the same stresses, and the same circumstances. They may snap at you at the grocery store...or cut in front of you in line. They may say your work is no good... or your best is not good enough. They may say your God isn’t able... or may not believe in your God at all.
But they are just like you. Created by a loving and caring Lord. His masterpiece.
They are in need of understanding. They have a past... just like you.
They are in need of compassion. Nobody has told them that Jesus loves them lately.
They are in need of hope. Their world is as cynical as yours sometimes.
They are in need of love. Not judgment.
Jesus said “You are the light of the world...” (Matthew 5:14).
President Woodrow Wilson once said, “The thing to do is to supply light and not heat.”
Which will you be in someone’s life today? Light or heat? Does the world need more understanding or criticism? Do your co-workers need a supportive ear or a pointed finger? How about your kids? How hard are you on yourself?
Today you have a choice. You can judge others... but the world has a lot of critics. You can stay neutral... but the world has a lot of people doing nothing. You can love others...and the world will change for the better.
And by loving others...you’ll change too.
