"Judging" 

Matthew 7: 1-5 "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."

This both convicts us and makes us defensive. Too many times we judge in the name of trying to be helpful. We also try to be helpful by fixing people. Neither is helpful or effective. By the way, for me to figure out whether l am being judgemental or not it works best for me to try to be honest about my motives. Uhoh,  more conviction and defensiveness coming. Not easy to admit that when we try to help, we would actually like to make a point, or teach a lesson, or straighten somebody out, or even cause trouble. Each of us must answer to God when it comes to judging. Our best tact would be to deal with our own issues before God and let others do the same. Forgive me if l am meddling or causing any angst. I have enough planks that l certainly do not need to touch yours or even your specks for that matter.     

With His grace,
Pastor Fred