One of the things God has revealed to me about my life is that I naturally possess a critical, suspicious spirit. We live under the Biblical paradox of judging all things (1Cor.2:15), and yet being told to “judge not, that you be not judged” (Mt.7:1). We are constantly in judgement of the lives of others around us through observation and process, and yet the Bible would have us to judge charitably and not critically. I think that means to think the best about others and not the worst until all possibilities of charity have been eliminated. The opposite of this is what we see in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 3:1-2. The Scriptures tell us “Jesus entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. And they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him." If the Pharisees had judged Jesus actions charitably and thought the best of His intentions they would have discovered the true meaning of the Sabbath. Instead right from the start, “they watched Him closely… so that they might accuse Him”. In a verse shortly following we read in paraphrase, “The Pharisees…immediately plotted…how they might destroy Him.” (3:6) Do you have the same kind of suspicious critical spirit as did the Pharisees? Almost all of us do at some time, with some people. Are you watching somebody closely today, waiting for them to trip up, so that you can accuse them; and plot how you might destroy them? God forbid! Let us judge each other with great charity, exalting the love and mercy of God as He keeps us for His glory by His grace!
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