Pastor’s Blog 4.11.18

Proverbs 21:2-3 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. 3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. KJV

We have been focusing on judgment the last few weeks and in this blog and today I would like to talk about judgment and motive. There is an old saying, “don’t judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes.” What a true word. I am quick to judge whether “something” is good or evil, but very slow to judge whether “someone” is good or evil. I sometimes shudder inside when I hear how quickly some people are to “judge a person.”

Years ago, I received the revelation of Jesus hanging on the cross saying, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do!” So, I believe there are people who know that they are doing evil, and then there are people who are doing evil, and don’t know it. There is apparently a different accountability on those who do evil and know it, and those who do evil and don’t know it.

Under the old covenant there was a provision for sins done in ignorance or unknowingly.

Ezekiel 45:19-20 The priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering and put it on the doorposts of the temple, on the four corners of the ledge of the altar, and on the gateposts of the gate of the inner court. 20 And so you shall do on the seventh day of the month for everyone who has sinned unintentionally or in ignorance . Thus you shall make atonement for the temple. NKJV

After the day of Pentecost Peter said this to the Jews at Jerusalem:

Acts 3:16-21 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. 17 “Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance , as did also your rulers. 18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. NKJV

Paul in his own testimony shared that God had mercy on him because he committed sins against the church in ignorance.

1 Timothy 1:12-15 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. NKJV

This is how I continue in mercy with people who are doing things that are wrong. There is a stricter judgment on someone who knows. When I see someone committing something wrong, I don’t have a problem saying the act is wrong, or judging the act, but the person and the act don’t always get the same judgment. Even in a natural court of law, the penalty is lessened or increased by the motive. That is why there are three degrees of murder and a class called manslaughter.

I was having a conversation with a judge one day who is a friend of mine. We were talking about judgment and he said that the degree of sentence has a lot to do with how much remorse is seen in the defendant. Wow! Human mercy still has its’ roots in the mercy of God for sure. So let’s fulfill the admonishment of the scripture:

James 1:19-20 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear , slow to speak, slow to wrath;20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. NKJV

The next time you are tempted to “pass judgment” on someone, (not the act of sin, but the person) ask the Lord about this very thing. I believe He will begin to show you His mercy and how to extend it to people when He so desires!

Be Blessed!
Pastor Dave