Hypocrisy 101 is judging others. Let’s look at the story of Tabitha. Tabitha looked left then right, sure that no one could see her, she scooped two more pieces of meat into her bowl and covered them with some spoons of rice. She smiled to herself, congratulating herself for being so smart.
Later in the day, she found her sister eating more than the usual share of chocolate. She knew her sister had taken them without their parents’ permission.
“I will report you” she told her sister.
That’s hypocrisy 101!
A hypocrite is someone who condemns someone for doing or saying something that they also are doing or have done.
Just like Tabitha who stole meat from the pot and accused her sister for stealing chocolate and even threatened to report her to their parents.
Doesn’t it make you angry at Tabitha? How dare she do that? You would like to call her out this instance and call her a hypocrite!
See what Jesus says about hypocrites
“Why do you notice the little piece of dust that is in your brother’s eye, but you don’t see the big piece of wood that is in your own eye? You say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take that little piece of dust out of your eye.’ Why do you say this? You cannot see that big piece of wood in your own eye! You are a hypocrite! First, take the piece of wood out of your own eye. Then you will see clearly to take the dust out of your brother’s eye. Luke 6:41-42 ICB
When you judge others, you are saying that you are perfect and without any sin.
The bible makes us to understand that no one is without sin. Only God is without sin and that’s bwhy He doesn’t want us to live in sin.
Judging others – you will receive same! Now let’s quickly read something Jesus said:
Give, and you will receive. You will be given much. It will be poured into your hands—more than you can hold. You will be given so much that it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you.” Luke 6:38 ICB This Scripture portrays our topic (Judging others – you will receive same); let’s see how.
Looking at judging others from yesterday, you saw what Jesus said about the topic. Now, this is the continuation of that teaching by Jesus. He said you should give and you will receive just as you have given. What it means is simple: Judging others – you will receive same.
So, you are judging others, but don’t know that some people are judging you as well. Maybe on the assembly ground, you are making fun of people about their clothes, shoes, clothes or something else. There are people behind you making fun of you too. That’s just how it is (Judging others – you will receive same)
As you judge others so shall you be judged (judging others – you will receive same.) This is because no one is perfect. It’s the grace of God that has been at work in your life, that has helped you achieve all that you so far and still at work in your life. So why would you judge or make fun of someone who is not having as good as you are right now?
The last part of the verse says that it’s the way you give that God will give to you. So it is same in this matter too: judging others – you will receive same. If you judge people often without a thought, you will be judged also like that. But if you take some time to think before doing so and not judge, the same will happen to you.
The bottom line is – what you give you will receive! Judging others – you will receive same!
Prayer: Father, I want to receive mercy from you. Help me to show such mercy to others and not judge them. Help me to keep this phrase (“Judging others – you will receive same”) in mind always. Amen
Action plan: Give as much mercy as you want to receive from others, cos judging others – you will receive same!
Are you judging others? There have been times when you have been so quick to judge someone without thinking before you do so. Within seconds you form an opinion of them. But Jesus warns agains the dangers of doing so.
“Don’t judge other people, and you will not be judged. Don’t accuse others of being guilty, and you will not be accused of being guilty. Forgive other people, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37 ICB.
You see one of your classmates with a dirty uniform and quickly you call him or her “dirty”. Well, you might not say it to their face, but in your heart you say it and it shows on your face too. You look disgusted and act snobbishly towards the person. Stop judging others. You don’t know what happened to the person. He could have slipped and fallen down hence the dirty uniform. Or he could have been attacked by a group of bullies who roughened him up.
Are you judging others?
Or you have a classmate who fails terribly at school in exams and tests. Calling her dumb and “empty head” is judging her based on her academic prowess. You don’t know what’s happening at home with her parents. Probably she doesn’t have time to study at home because she helps her mother at their little shop. Unlike you whose parents are not selling anything.
Are you judging others?
The bottom line is this – don’t jump to conclusions about people because you don’t know what happened to them. That’s why Jesus warns that you shouldn’t judge people.
Over the next few days we will look at what Jesus says about judging others. Are you judging others? If yes, it is my prayer that this teachings will help you.
May the Holy Spirit give you a heart that loves instead of judging. Amen
Prayer: Lord, help me to stop judging others. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Action plan: watch your words and thoughts the next time you are quick to judge others.
Everyone has fears. It’s part of our human nature. Fear can be good or bad depending on if you allow it to control you. But children can overcome fear. Yes, you can overcome fear. But first, let us look at how fear can play out.
Your words, thoughts, actions can be controlled by fear. Fear can make you say the wrong thing, act the wrong way, and think the wrong thoughts. That is the truth of the matter. Having a fear can make you not even take any action at all. But I say again, you can overcome your fears. Yes, children can overcome fear. It’s one thing to be afraid, but it’s another thing to overcome them.
The Bible tells you to not fear because God is with you. Rather than fear, the Bible tells you to give all your fears to God. To release them to Him because He alone can help you overcome any fear; children can overcome fear.
Someone gave fear the acronym
F- False
E- Expectations
A- Appearing
E- Real.
As time goes on, we will look at each of these words to learn more about fear. But do not forget that children can overcome fear. You can personalize it; say to yourself, “I can overcome my fear. I am not in bondage to fear!” Yes, that there is the spirit! You can overcome your fears, and you surely will. God is bigger than those fears you know.
Do you know that what you say or do shows how responsible you are? People can quickly judge that about you (how responsible you are) without even spending much time with you or knowing you for long? So you have to watch what you say. This truth cannot be overemphasized.
Imagine someone sees or hears you making fun of people all the time. Almost every time this person sees you, you are making fun of someone or doing one wrong thing or the other. What do you think they will say or think about you? It can’t be positive; therefore you must learn to watch what you say.
To you it may be fun and means nothing, but to the victim of your jokes it means something. To the person observing you, it says something about you. It shows how irresponsible you are because only an irresponsible person would take it upon themselves to always make jokes about people. So you have to learn to watch what you say.
A responsible person would rather help, support, provide and befriend someone rather than make fun of them.
“My brothers God called you and chose you to be his. Try hard to show that you really are God’s chosen people. If you do all these things, you will never fall.” 2 Pet. 1:10.
May the Lord take away the spirit of irresponsibility from you and give a spirit of responsibility and love. May the LORD help you to learn how to watch what you say; Amen.
Prayer: Lord, I ask for the spirit of responsibility and love. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Action plan: To become responsible, know what responsibility means. Then act it out always. Keep the phrase ‘watch what you say’ in your mind always.
