Who Are You To Judge???

The Bible is very clear in its directive that we ought not to judge one another at risk of being a fool (or at least, found to be unwise!). During the last few mornings, during my reading of the book of Joshua, I have come across a story that has piqued my interest.

We find the Children of Israel entering the Promised Land when, out of nowhere, arrives a detachment of emissaries from a 'land far away.' During conflab with these men, it appears that they prove the length and duration of their journey to the princes of Israel by producing some bags of stale bread and some shrunken wineskins. Also, they showed them the shoes and garments that were supposedly 'new' when they departed their homes.

The sad thing that I find here is that scripture records that the princes of Israel partook of their victuals and 'sought not counsel from the Lord'. They judged by what they were given without giving God a chance to speak.

The Children of Israel, Joshua included, made a judgment call with no point of personal reference. They were not authorities on the freshness of bread... they'd been eating manna. They had no benchmark for the wear of another man's shoes... they'd been wearing the same ones for 40 years.

When we judge by what we 'see', and seek not God's counsel, we are judging from our own perspective, our own experiences, which may be totally different than those of the people we are standing against in judgment!

If this is what happens when I judge a man without walking in his shoes, Jesus, make me a careful man! Before we ascribe motives and try to say what 'really happened', we need to take a minute and seek counsel from the Lord. He knows... and His judgment is usually (always?!) very different from mine!

Ten Shekels and a Shirt

I must confess, the title of this post, which was used as the moniker for my message this past Sunday Morning, is not original with me. As cool as it is, I wish I could claim it! But, alas, it was 'thunk up' by another man in another time...

The story of the Levite in Judges 17 stirred my heart in a way that I've been craving for awhile. We all say that we don't want to serve God for the loaves and fishes, but in reality, many of us do! As I read the story of this man, he was simply on his way to 'wherever he could find a place' (according to one translation) and the only impetus he had for putting down roots in this place was that it gave him a lucrative opportunity to do what he wanted to do. He could serve God on his own terms and collect some blessings besides!

The problem arrived in the form of five spies who 'knew his voice' from another time and place. They sought out his word, and wanted to know what he 'made' there. His reply had nothing to do with God, but rather with the 'such and such' that he received from the man who owned the house.

When they recognized the laxness of his religiosity, they knew he was the man for them. If he could be bought once, he could be bought again! And we see it happen... "He put his hand upon his mouth..." and allowed his 'service' to God to be moved down the road for what he supposed would be a bigger blessing.

I determined anew, and with no small amount of tears...

I will not have my service to God demeaned by 'ten shekels and a shirt'...

I'm not here for the loaves and fishes... I'm here because I love Him!

My worship will not be held hostage until I get what I want from God...

If He never blesses me again... I'm STILL gonna praise His name

If He never blesses me again... I'm gonna love Him JUST THE SAME

If He never blesses me again... He's blessed me enough already

I can NEVER STOP praising Him!

I'll Know When It's Right...

As I sit here in my office on this Saturday Evening, I can hear the choir practicing in the sanctuary right outside my window. They are doing fantastic... there is just one or two little things that bother me.

Now, I am under no illusions about my singing abilities. I know I stink when it comes to vocal talent but... that doesn't mean I don't appreciate somebody who does it right, or can't tell when they do it wrong.

I wonder sometimes about how we appear to the world. From their perspective, they may think... I don't know how to do it, but I sure know that that's not the way!

Reminds me of a story I heard about a man who wrote a powerful tract entitled "Come to Jesus". It was widely used by churches and the man was touted as a great writer. One day, he was a little steamed up at the editor of a magazine who took issue with some of his theological stances and proceeded to write and mail this man a scathing epistle.

With no small amount of pride in his response, he showed it to one of his colleagues and eagerly awaited his response. When he finished, he really didn't know what to say. There was no doubt that the editor had been verbally 'sliced and diced'. The author looked at his friend and said, "I know it's good, but I haven't assigned a title to it yet. What do you think?"

His friend sadly smiled and said, "I think the appropriate title should be 'Go to the Devil by the Author of Come to Jesus'"

I hope fervently that my life is not such an oxymoronic representation of Christ. Our communities may not know The Way, but they are capable of recognizing it when it's done right... and when it's done wrong!