Read Luke 6:37-38
Do A Lot Less Judging And Condemning And A Lot More Forgiving And Giving.
This Scripture says, “Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
What a timely message. A young lady, once in my youth group, has struggled with her dad’s death and alcohol has been a go-to in dealing with pain. Her dad died a few years ago and it’s been a struggle in a lot of ways for her. But she reached out 2 months ago and God has been doing a great work in her life.
She lost contact with several family members and two of them reached out to her and met with her last night. She was afraid to go because they are alcoholics. And she’s trying to quit drinking. Their conversation went very well but after they left she drank a lot. A lot!
She didn’t have to share any of this with me. But she did via Facebook message. She said, “I trust you to tell you the truth, just please don’t be judgmental towards me.”
She’s come a long ways in her faith walk and has given up a lot of things in life that the Lord has laid on her heart. She still struggles with alcohol and this particular night she drank a lot. She confessed it to me. How do I respond? Of course I want to say something so she knows how I feel. But, in this case, I felt the Lord speak to my heart. “Give mercy and compassion! Focus on the positive things that have happened in her life that have changed. Focus on reminding her who she is in Christ (I Peter 2:1-10).” And God will convict her where she needs it.
Luke 6:37-38 says Don’t Judge. Don’t condemn. Forgive. And GIVE. The Greek word for GIVE is to “Didonte.” When it says to give it’s not just talking about money, it is talking about anything including forgiveness or love.
If you show compassion and forgiveness to a person, God will give that to you in return. If you give mercy and encouragement to a fallen brother or sister, God will give Mercy and encouragement to you.
Have you fallen spiritually? Have you made some bad decisions? Are you struggling in an area of your life? God loves you. You are beautiful and awesome and chosen by God, a royal priesthood. Keep turning to the Lord and never give up. He has so much more for you.
