A world where rumors are a trend & truth is an afterthought.

"...in everything God works for the good of those who love HIM." Am so convinced this is true. This entire month and the month before, it's all been about things inexplicable. Many sad events happened. If I have no faith in God, I could've really been sucked alive by the tragedies I personally experienced and the tragedies of people close to me and other people I know. The mind always tries to find and give reasons to why things happen. But, there are times, answers aren't really needed. We only have to believe that whatever purpose there might be, it's all for the good no matter how it looks so bad. Live by faith NOT by sight.

...and to conclude this month, I'd like to share (not for the last time, don't celebrate!) about JUDGING others.  There have been numerous arguments about this topic ― personal views and opinion of people about this instruction from the Bible: DO NOT JUDGE (ref. Matthew 7:1-5, Luke 6:37). 

The command is obviously plain and simple if you come to think of it. It's a no-BUTs command. But, because people want to legitimize and excuse their acts, they'd refer to other scriptures/verses they can use. Like this one..."judge with right judgment." (John 7:24). Because they found a line that says it's ok to judge ONLY it should be "righteous judgment" they think they're given the ticket to do it. Am not claiming am a Bible expert or anything but I search for the Truth because I am inclined to throwing judgments, as well. It's sooo tempting especially when we're focusing on the lives of other people in stead of our own. I strongly believe that nobody has the right to judge. My basis...

God is the One who gave us the law, and He is the Judge. 
He is the only One Who can save and destroy. 
So it is not right for you to judge anyone. 
 ― James 4:12, ERV

True enough. Who could better judge righteously but the One Who gave the commandments? Besides, because of man's complexities and lack of knowledge and understanding, who can truly make right judgment? I mean, looking at an object then ask three people to describe it, you'll end up with different descriptions. We all have different perspective and views. And, it's basically why the commandment was given to us ― because our understanding and knowledge aren't the same as God's.  The Lord says, “My thoughts are not like yours. Your ways are not like Mine. (Isaiah 55:8). If that's the case, we could be wrong about what we think, see, or feel. People think that whatever they do is right, but the Lord judges the reasons for everything they do. (Proverbs 21:2) 

This explains why Jesus described the pharisees as hypocrites. They can easily hide their evil thoughts behind godly actions. Like I'd always say, it's easier to follow rules than be judged and be punished. People become too careful following a bunch of rules and they end up comparing themselves with other people whose sins are widely exposed. Indeed, like what the Word says,  

(Matthew 7:15) 

The Lord said, "These people claim to worship me, but their words are meaningless, and their hearts are somewhere else. Their religion is nothing but human rules and traditions, which they have simply memorized.        ― Isaiah 29:13 

Funny thing about religious people, they're the very ones who gossip a lot. They're the ones who make quick judgment. Once they see something with their eyes ... they rush to spread it like wildfire. Are we forgetting the Word also tells us, "Don’t be too quick to tell a judge about something you saw. You will be embarrassed if someone else proves you wrong." (Proverbs 25:8) 

We aren't with everyone round-the-clock. We don't have CCTVs that monitor what people are doing when they're not around us. God is the ONLY ONE Who is omnipresent so, only HE has the sole right to judge. Besides, God looks at the heart. He doesn't just focus on actions. That's why He called the pharisees  HYPOCRITES. They're doing all the good stuff, but inside them are bad stuff. They show off they know the Law but did not really do what the Law requires based on God's intention. And, because they're very careful in observing the Law, they were too quick to pass judgment on others to give themselves credit for the good work they'd done.

Many people, especially religious ones, these days are like those pharisees who are so good in doing ministries and acts of service to show they're better than others, which they use as tickets to pass judgment on others who sin differently than they do. Not considering that they, too, have so many issues to deal with. They end up weighing which sin is more evil. If theirs is lesser evil, that's already enough reason for them to condemn another. By this they're disregarding another Truth from the Word: "if we break anything stated in the Law, we break all."  (James 2:10) So, it doesn't matter whether your sin is just cheating and another's murder. Let's understand that that's mainly the purpose why Jesus had to walk on Earth and die on our behalf ― because NONE is capable of fulfilling ALL what the Law requires. All have sin and fall short of the glory of God! ALL. So, for crying out loud, can we ALL excuse fellow Christians we think are falling short and say the same things we're using as excuses whenever we fall short?!  Some overheard lines are: "I thank God for His mercies are new every morning..."I thank Jesus for saving me because I can't save myself." If someone we know sins, we can say the same things and trust that God is working in their lives, as well.

Sadly, though, many are hiding behind their closets. They're so good and pleasant when around other people but inside their homes, inside their rooms...in their hearts...what really is there? Who really are they? In fact, being too itchy to judge another already proves what tree they are for the Word says, "You will know the tree by its fruit." Did Jesus ever gossip or slander anyone? The Bible tells us, If we say we live in God, we must live the way Jesus lived. (1 John 2:6) Jesus, Himself, even said... I don’t judge anyone. But if I judge, My judging is true, because when I judge I am not alone. The Father who sent Me is with Me. (John 8:15-16)  That's Jesus, Himself, talking!!!

When Jesus bumped into this woman by the well (ref John 4), He knew what kind of life she's living. He even said her story accurately. But, HE did NOT judge the woman by telling her she's immoral or anything like that. And, definitely, HE did not go and told His disciples or others about her wrongs. In stead, HE ministered to that woman, showed real concern for her, which caused her to repent and change her ways. The Bible shows us Jesus' example. Why aren't we imitating Him? 

I believe that if one is living by the Spirit, s/he will do as Jesus Christ did, in stead of judging/condemning. We're all sinners. Christians are saints who sin because that's human nature. Everyone is in the flesh. So, when one falters, we need to help them up and not pull them down more by judging them. Brothers and sisters, someone in your group might do something wrong. You who are following the Spirit should go to the one who is sinning. Help make that person right again, and do it in a gentle way. But be careful, because you might be tempted to sin too. (Galatians 6:1) This was given as an exhortation because we all have the tendency to be tempted and fall. For NONE is righteous (Romans 3:10).  Left alone to ourselves, we will choose to do wrong, which is why we are encouraged to abide in Christ. 

It's so funny how we're always telling each other "HE Who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it..." yet, whenever a brother or a sister fails, we readily judge. We even tell everyone about how wrong they are and then stay away from that brother or sister. How about Apostle Paul's struggle? ― I don’t understand why I act the way I do. I don’t do the good I want to do, and I do the evil I hate.  What if a sinning brother or sister is also having that same struggle? Can't we simply let God work in the person's life, in stead? 

And are we not realizing that God's answer to Paul's plea to remove the "thorn in his flesh" was to help him be strong in the Lord and to keep him humble? The Apostle Paul said...But I must not be too proud of the wonderful things that were shown to me. So a painful problem was given to me—an angel from Satan, sent to make me suffer, so that I would not think that I am better than anyone else. I begged the Lord three times to take this problem away from me. But the Lord said, “My grace is all you need. Only when you are weak can everything be done completely by my power.” So I will gladly boast about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can stay in me.  (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)

Clearly, everyone...especially...Christians will undergo so many challenges in this world to test what they're really made of. God will always discipline us, mold us, prune us because HE wants us to be like His Son Jesus. God will strip us off our flesh and that can really be tough. Not at all times, we're gonna be strong enough to resist sin because when it gets hard, we are inclined to go back feeding the flesh. Some people struggle with temper, others lust, others drunkenness, some others much worse...some others really petty. Still, the bottom line is, we are being dealt with our own personal flaws and issues. If God is allowing each one of us our own pace to change, can't we be as gracious to allow each other's pace? 

You cannot judge the servants of someone else. 
Their own master decides if they are doing right or wrong. 
And the Lord’s servants will be right, 
because the Lord is able to make them right.
―Romans 14:4

Most of the time, there are really tangible and well-grounded evidences and facts that can't be ignored. It's true. But, they're still not enough grounds to conclude, assume and esp judge and condemn. Again, we only know very little to make judgments because we judge externally. God judges what's in our hearts. God doesn't only focus on the ACT, but the MOTIVES behind. 

Going back to John 7:24 - "judge with right judgment."... which in another version goes like this...stop judging by the way things look. Be fair and judge by what is really right ... we are being taught to not judge at all because like what Jesus gave as an illustration how the pharisees were following the Law of Moses ― about keeping the Sabbath holy and yet did circumcision on Sabbath then condemned Jesus that HE's healing on a Sabbath ― makes them manipulators of the Law. (Just like what Isaiah 29:13 says about them.) So, it appears this way ―  when they're the ones doing what the Law says they shouldn't do, it's acceptable. But, if it's someone else (in that case, Jesus) it's so WRONG.

Many are like this nowadays. They see the speck in another's eyes but can't see the log in their own eyes. They're unforgiving of the sins of their brothers while they're so forgiving of their own sins. In fact, if you're just really gonna be legalistic about the command: keep the Sabbath holy, both the pharisees and Jesus broke the Law, isn't it? It only teaches us that there are things, which in our petty judgment, are completely wrong that may not be wrong at all because it's not ONLY the act that God looks at but the motive. Also, we should remind ourselves of God's sovereignty. He ordained everything. And the following passages speak a lot about it:

God said to Moses, “I will show mercy to anyone I want to show mercy to. I will show pity to anyone I choose.” So God will choose anyone he decides to show mercy to, and his choice does not depend on what people want or try to do. In the Scriptures God says to Pharaoh: “I made you king so that you could do this for me. I wanted to show my power through you. I wanted my name to be announced throughout the world.” So God shows mercy to those he wants to show mercy to and makes stubborn those he wants to make stubborn.

 

So one of you will ask me, “If God controls what we do, why does he blame us for our sins?” Don’t ask that. You are only human and have no right to question God. A clay jar does not question the one who made it. It does not say, “Why did you make me like this?” The one who makes the jar can make anything he wants. He uses the same clay to make different things. He might make one thing for special purposes and another for daily use.  ― Romans 9:15-21

God has all the right to every person whatever He might purposed them to be. We are not to question another person's design. DO NOT JUDGE. We are all instructed to LOVE one another not to judge one another. God doesn't want us to change each other because that is HIS job not ours. We have made ourselves gods telling God how each one is malfunctioning in stead of saying, "God, I am malfunctioning. Please fix me."

Apostle Paul also said...

...I don’t consider your judgment on this point to be worth anything. Even an opinion from a court of law would mean nothing. I don’t even trust my own judgment. I don’t know of any wrong I have done, but that does not make me right. The Lord is the one who must decide if I have done well or not. So, don’t judge anyone now. The time for judging will be when the Lord comes. He will shine light on everything that is now hidden in darkness. He will make known the secret purposes of our hearts. Then the praise each person should get will come from God. ―1 Corinthians 4:3-5

Now, with all that I said, I must not ignore another passage that encourages Christians to judge problems between believers found in 1 Corinthians 6:1-3, When one of you has something against someone else in your group, why do you go to the judges in the law courts? The way they think and live is wrong. So why do you let them decide who is right? Why don’t you let God’s holy people decide who is right? Don’t you know that God’s people will judge the world? So if you will judge the world, then surely you can judge small arguments like this. You know that in the future we will judge angels. So surely we can judge life’s ordinary problems.

Let's not take the above passages out of context. Clearly, it talks about resolving conflicts between two people WITH the intention of restoring relationships. In the next passages, in fact, are exhortations to simply forgive and let go. Compare this to JUST judging with the wrong motives, with pride and arrogance, and without trying to restore the person doing wrong. Problem with many religious people, they judge, criticize and gossip with no intention of helping the person erring. See the difference? So many people look at another person as if they're so filthy and beyond cure forgetting that they, too, are still also sinning only in a different way. Thinking so highly of themselves. Just like the pharisees!!! 

So, if you aren't doing anything to help a sinning brother or sister and have no guts and intention to do so, better shut your mouth and stop doing wrong or else you, too, will be JUDGED!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The steps of a person are ordained by the Lord—

so how can anyone understand his own way?  

―Proverbs 20:24

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~

 "Before you judge someone else, stop and think about all that God has forgiven you for."

 

  

Don't be critics and point out flaws in God's art.

Countless people are crushed inside themselves and live without hope these days. Many of them think that the world is nothing but an ugly place. That life is unfair. A lot see themselves as the world's rejects. But, I don't bite at this. It's not really the place that causes pain and misery. It's what's in it. Storm comes, yes. But, if only we function in love and compassion, storms could be easier to bear. In stead of pointing fingers and highlighting the wrongs of others...in stead of being indifferent and taking no accountability for the life of another... if only people walk in love... the world could've been a nicer place to live in.  

What's wrong is that many people... even close friends and many Christians... harbor so much hate, envy, jealousy, selfishness, and all other trash in their system and then talk about others behind their back. They stop coming around you, avoid you...do spiritual quarantine; or the least, fake smiles, conversations and niceness...in stead, of telling you what they think is wrong with you or whatever you might have done which offended them. Then, they go to Church every Sunday clapping, shouting, singing and acting their best to show they're good people.

It seems that people have found ways to kill or torture others, not physically, but with their words, animosity, hostility, indifference, judgment, criticisms, slander, hatred, bitterness, jealousy, envy...and all the many trash they hide inside themselves they use as spears. All those baggage should be let go rather than be used as weapons against each other. True enough... HURT PEOPLE HURT PEOPLE.

Be very careful not to use the Bible to your benefit...to manipulate people... and then ignore the parts in there that point to your wrongs. Like, "do not judge", "do not slander" ...especially, without really knowing the person or what really happened.

If anyone thinks himself to be piously observant of the external duties of his faith yet does not control his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person’s religious service is worthless. [James 1:26]

Remember this: There are some terrible times coming in the last days. People will love only themselves and money. They will be proud and boast about themselves. They will abuse others with insults. They will not obey their parents. They will be ungrateful and against all that is pleasing to God. They will have no love for others and will refuse to forgive anyone. They will talk about others to hurt them and will have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. People will turn against their friends. They will do foolish things without thinking and will be so proud of themselves. Instead of loving God, they will love pleasure. They will go on pretending to be devoted to God, but they will refuse to let that “devotion” change the way they live. Stay away from these people! [2 Timothy 3:1-5]

There is no other commandment highly emphasized by Jesus but these two:

‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and most important command. And the second command is like the first: Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.’  [Matthew 22:37-40]

Whoever is of God loves because God is love. Love causes one not to do bad to others.

FAKE is the trend and so many are in STYLE!

To every person who gossiped about me; to everyone who tries to be close to me to know my story only to tell the world of it in a malicious manner; to the close-minded; to the judgmental and critic; to friends who turned out to be backstabbers; to those who envy and compete; and, to those who "secretly" keep their dislike or hatred toward me yet smile at and talk nicely to me: 

You all challenge me to become a better person. You all turn me into a stronger and wiser woman. For all that you have done -- no matter how bad and hurtful... you've unknowingly done so much in favor of me. For that, I THANK you ALL.

I share the same sentiment King David had...

If it were an enemy making fun of me, I could endure it; if it were an opponent boasting over me, I could hide myself from him. But it is you, my companion, my colleague and close friend.  We had intimate talks with each other and worshiped together in the Temple. [Psalm 55:12]

And this, my best friend, betrayed his best friends;
    his life betrayed his word.
All my life I’ve been charmed by his speech,
    never dreaming he’d turn on me.
His words, which were music to my ears,
    turned to daggers in my heart.  [v. 20-21]

 ~~~~~~~~~~

 You might call many people your “friends,”but it is hard to find someone who can really be TRUSTED. [Proverbs 20:6, ERV]

Evil people say things to make themselves look good,
but they keep their evil plans a secret.
What they say sounds good, but don’t trust them.
They are full of evil ideas. They hide their evil plans with nice words,
but in the end, everyone will see the evil they do.
Liars hate the people they hurt, and false praise can hurt people.
[Proverbs 26:24-28]

It's truly helpful to not EXPECT from anyone. You'll be so surprised to know ...the people you thought are sincere friends are the very ones who "secretly" hate you for whatever reasons you won't ever fathom. They are worse than enemies because they always try to inflict pain in ways unimaginable while you're unsuspiciously giving your trust. It's simply frustrating how no matter you give the best that you can...the best that you have...it'll never suffice. Some friends hide behind smiles but their hearts are filled with inexplicable animosity. You may arrive at different conclusions and try to fix what might be wrong with you, but the truth is, you will never be able to satisfy them because they're really not your friends right from the beginning, in the first place. Sad but true.

And, I learned this truth the hard way...

 

Not because I choose to do right I can expect others to do the same. I realized that I can only be responsible for my own behavior and attitude. I will never have any influence in another's. It's their choice. And, unless they resolve in their hearts to release animosity, hatred, bitterness, envy, and all other negative feelings they choose to nurture... I can never expect them to be considerate of my feelings. There's emptiness, hunger and thirst within them, which no matter how I try to fill will never be satisfied. I am not the solution. My solutions aren't gonna help either. I can try and try to be better as a friend, as a person...but, it is not I who can arrange what's messy in them. They need to drop the ill feelings -- hatred, jealousy, hostility, etc. -- first and experience God's love, mercy and grace. 

The world yells, "leave those who only cause you misery...and stick to the ones who give you more love and inspiration".  Tempting to consider, huh?! Very convenient. But, self-seeking. Opposite of what the Word says, "bear with the failings of the weak" (Romans 15:1) and "do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4)

Yes, I can't do anything about the way they feel about me...about the way they treat me. They may decide to stay fake all they want. But, I can't give up LOVING. It's so true...you'll only know that you love when you sacrifice. You sacrifice your own feelings for the good of another. I can't deny that loving those who hide their hatred behind fake friendship is PAINFUL. It truly is. And, there are times I simply feel like running away from them because I am so aware of the harm they intend to inflict. Just, how can I deny them love when God didn't deny His love from me even I don't deserve it? How can I choose to give up on people when God never thought of giving up on me? God knows my innermost thoughts. God knows I am inclined to choose things that hurt Him. Still, HE chooses to love me over and over and over...............

The command to "love your enemies" is indeed challenging. But, it's more tough to love a friend who betrays. Yet, the best contribution you can impart to anyone, esp the unlovable, is unconditional love. Because they need it most when they least deserve it. If I won't choose to love them in their worst state, who will? Yes, God will. But, how can they experience God if not through me? Christians are vessels of God's love, compassion, mercy, forgiveness...and all the good stuff. And as a Christian, I can't decide who should and should not receive any good stuff when they're in God's list of recipients. I have no right to skip anyone only because they're harmful.

So all of you should live together in peace.Try to understand each other. Love each other like brothers and sisters. Be kind and humble.  Don’t do wrong to anyone to pay them back for doing wrong to you. Or don’t insult anyone to pay them back for insulting you. But ask God to bless them. Do this because you yourselves were chosen to receive a blessing.

The Scriptures say,
“If you want to enjoy true life and have only good days,  then avoid saying anything hurtful, and never let a lie come out of your mouth.  [1 Peter 3:8-10 ERV]

I just place my confidence in one thing: "The Lord sees what happens everywhere. He watches everyone, good and evil." [Proverbs 15:3]  All I have to do is to "Turn to the Lord for help in everything you do, and you will be successful." [Proverbs 16:3]  I trust what the Word says, "If you are always trying to do good, no one can really harm you. But you may suffer for doing right. If that happens, you have God’s blessing. “Don’t be afraid of the people who make you suffer; don’t be worried." [1 Peter 3:13,14]

Someone told me that unconditional love isn't possible with man. That it's only God Who can love that way. I almost want to agree because of the difficulty in doing it. But, I am fully convinced that because Christ already won the victory, I too, am a victor. I only need to be strong in the Lord. Like what the Apostle Paul said, "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live I live by believing in God's Son, who loved me and took the punishment for my sins." That's why Jesus said, "deny yourself and pick up your cross daily."  

  I will not allow defeat. I am not "of those who shrink back, but of those who have faith."

I can do all things through Christ Who gives me strength!

Toodles!