Journal ~ JamesSample

 GETCHA HEAD IN THE GAME 

It’s very disheartening to know that Christians are often known more for what we are against than what we stand for. It's very human to want to be right and want everyone else to know how right we are. However, we often find ourselves too caught up in ourselves that we feel we have the right to pass judgment on others.

A large number of us don't particularly struggle with the urge to steal, murder, covet, or participate in immoral activities. The fact that we don’t struggle with those sometimes help fuel our judgment tank; we often feel that we have the right to judge others. If we're being completely honest, a lot of us struggle with being judgmental. We fit into our Judgy McJudgepants persona a little too comfortably. 

James, in this chapter, tells his readers that when they judge one another or when they root for their brothers or sisters to fail or when they bad mouth each other, God's message takes a beating. There is only One who is worthy to judge people, and it's quite obvious that we’re not him.

Reading this passage, I’m challenged to take inventory of my thoughts and my words. I encourage you to join me in reflection. Take some time today to ask the Lord for forgiveness for times when you might have judged others and have acted in an unloving manner to them. The good news is that God's grace covers compulsive judgers as well!