Wind she is a blowing, trees are dancing and the clouds are quickly moving against a darkened sky.  Feels like Spring coming on.

Mathew 7:1-2 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

² For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

Judge not, that ye be not judged.

I don’t think there is a single person that doesn’t know that verse.

How many times has someone wagged their finger in your face (literally or figuratively) and quoted it?

How many times did you do that before you were saved?

I had just started dating Carla when one her friends told me she was praying for me.

I looked at her and in tone and attitude I asked “what do you mean - you are praying for me?”

While I didn’t quote that verse it was my intent.

She looked at me in shock and didn’t say anything else.

Two things come to mind when I read this verse and think of that conversation with her.

That is the reaction by most people, when told of their short comings – whether directly or ‘implied’ - as I felt that day. 

“How dare you say that, who are YOU to make that comment?”

People don’t like to be told they are sinning.  You are ‘judging them’ and when you have your own problems how dare you judge them?

The other realization comes as I think of our relationship through the following months and years.

She never again mentioned praying for me.  She was still friendly and even invited me to some of the Youth Group functions.

I attended and eventually went to the altar and accepted Christ.

When I got up from my knees and turned to walk back to my seat I realized every member of that Youth Group was still there, and most of the adults.

I realized then, that they had been praying for me that night, and probably long before that time.

Carla’s friend did not give up on me.  One of the fears that I find Christians have is that they are not perfect, they are not without sin, so they fear they can’t tell another about their sin without sounding like a hypocrite – or being accused of judging.

So, they don’t tell others, it is easier to not be labeled judgmental, none of us likes rejection and when a person rejects Christ we feel they are rejecting us.

That young lady, along with Carla and the rest of the Youth Group – and indeed that congregation – loved and prayed for those that they encountered if they need Christ OR if they needed anything in their life.

We cannot allow our fear of insults to interfere with our responsibility to share God’s Gospel.

The young lady could have written me off, could have been too afraid to continue talking to me and being a friend, she could have been afraid of being rebuffed when she invited me to these functions......but she continued showing me Christian love.

She wasn’t perfect and the more I got to know her, I saw that, but she also loved God and as I fellowshipped with that Youth Group I saw a bunch of teenagers, supporting and helping each other AND not one single one was perfect – but they shared God with others. 

We cannot be afraid to tell others of Christ’s love.  We cannot be afraid that they will reject us and cause a discomfort between us – or worse.  We cannot worry about being called judgmental and in violation of this verse by a non-believer who judges us without the light of the Word.

We can share without being obnoxious, we can share without making it sound like we are the judge that is sending them to hell – but even the mildest phrase “I am praying for you” can make them look at you and quote the verse. 

But that should not stop us from sharing Christ.  I have been cut off of sharing Christ, I knew that if I continued I would get nowhere – but it hasn’t stopped me from praying for them or living for Christ where they can see Him working. 

I have also shared Christ many times with the same person, not all of them have accepted Christ.

Each person is different.  We can ask the Holy Spirit for His guidance and direction in sharing Christ and He WILL honor that prayer.

But we cannot let our fear of rejection or our imperfections keep us from witnessing about God.  I am sure there were those that looked at Peter – maybe even years later – and considered him a hypocrite because he denied Christ and now he is telling THEM to accept him.

God uses us, just as we are, a sinner saved who is trying his best to live with the Holy Spirit within us, striving for perfection but often falling short of the mark.

For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 

While that can be a condemnation – and many times is – we can also understand that it is a reaffirmation of our dedication to God.  We just need to be sure that we are casting aside our own predilections for sin – especially sins that we are condemning in others – and allowing God to work within us.

Later, Art :-)