"I am come a Light into the world, that whosoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear My words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.”
John 12:46-47
Making judgments are a necessary part of life. We make judgments every minute of every day simply to keep ourselves alive. Whether you are making a judgment about people, places, things, or events, your first instincts are usually correct. However, the problems with making judgments are, they have more to do with you than the person you are judging. That’s not the biblical version, that’s simply observation.
Our judgments are based on our personal perceptions. For example, let’s say you are walking home late one night and hear the footsteps of two other people walking quickly behind you. You may become agitated with fear and begin to walk even faster, not realizing that the people behind you, neighbors who do not know your name, are purposely walking quickly to catch up to you, so you will not be alone. It’s all about perception. Perception skews everything.
...Many people are apprehensive about reaching out to others who may not know Jesus Christ; somehow the words they believe they need become immobilized in their throats. Yet, it is not their words, it’s their perception of themselves vs. the people they believe they will address. We are inhibited by our perception of ourselves, and we are inhibited by our perception of the people we meet. We somehow begin the judgment process in relation to money, status, race, ethnicity, culture, etc., all things that will eventually become irrelevant. Whether the person is former US President William Jefferson Clinton or Billy from around-the-block, Jesus is the great equalizer.
So, the next time you really want to speak to someone about Jesus, why not leave the judgment to Him, and simply remember what He has done for you. L.
Study Reference: John 12:46-50
Excerpt from: "Based on Perception." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: shutterstock
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