JUDGING
AMONG FRIENDS
RULES
OF THE
HOUSE
(Let
Love Be our Greatest Aim. I Cor. 14:1)
Yesterday,
the Lord showed me that I had been judging others who were judging me. I asked forgiveness and
received it. He is so kind to show us things in ourselves that are hurting us and slowing us down.
Are
we judging or condemning? Jesus said: “Ye judge after the flesh. I judge no man.” (John
8:15). If we desire to be like Jesus, then neither do we desire to judge others. Only God
can do that with Supreme accuracy.
The
Lord gave me such a clear direction this morning as my eyes fell on His Words in John 18:8,11. He
said: “I told you that I am HE; if therefore ye seek ME, let these go their
way.” And to make it even more clear to me, I read where He said: “Put up
thy sword into the sheath.”
In
other words: stop struggling with this or even the people who seem to judge you. Do not judge
them. Let it go. If you are seeking ME, you have found ME, so don’t continue trying
to get others to understand you. Don’t be offended when they seem to judge you…they
did the same to Me.
You
can’t totally understand them, either. Only I can. They are My creation
and I look on their hearts. Sometimes humans cannot do that so well. So they judge or evaluate
by what they see in the flesh. Only I can truly see deeper. Trust Me. I love you all
and forgive you all when you ask.
This
may seem strange that our Lord would open His Word to speak specifically to me…or you, by what
He was saying to Peter and the disciples in the Garden. But His Word is Alive and sharper than
a two-edged sword. And if He chooses to use His Word this way to speak to us from time to time,
it’s His choice. His Words bear witness with our spirit as to what He is referring to in
our present circumstances. So the Holy Spirit uses this as one way to guide and direct
our steps.
24
HOUR PRESENCE OF GOD
I
am not there yet, but am practicing recognizing the presence of God with me all day…wherever
I go. Not matter who is in my environment.
One
way to do this is to allow a praise song to fill in the gaps when I seem to forget that God
is present with me all the time. He is there, I just want to remain aware that He is. This
morning the song that came to me (possibly on the wings of angels) is the old song: ♫My
Best Friend is Jesus. Praise Him, Praise Him…My Best Friend is Jesus…Praise Him!♫ Then
as I was thinking about Jesus being my very Best Friend, I understood that I had a lot of friends,
but they really weren’t all Best Friends, as I seemed to want all of them to be. But a “Best
Friend” is truly above all others.
What
is a Best Friend like? The Holy Spirit directed me back to something included in the Angel
Food book on page 31. I had called it the
RULES OF THE HOUSE. My Best
Friend fits right into every one of these rules and I want to be like Him. I want to be:
Patient and kind,
Never jealous or envious,
Never boastful or proud,
Never haughty or selfish or rude,
Not demand my own way.
Not irritable or touchy,
Not hold grudges,
Try not to notice when others do
me wrong,
Never be glad about injustice.
Rather, rejoice when truth wins out.
Loyal to my friends_ no matter what
the cost.
Always believe in them,
Expect the best of them;
Stand my ground in Defending them.
In
other words, to Let Love Be My Greatest Aim. (I Corinthians 13:4-7) from the Living Bible. Whew,
I sure have a long way to go, but this is the desire of my heart. Then I can call myself a true
friend to others. I want to be the Best Kind of Friend to others…like my Best Friend, Jesus is
to me.
Practice
His Presence today…you and your Best Friend…all day, walking hand in hand, side by side
wherever you go.
