Something Happens When We Sit in the Judgement Seat!
It’s a funny thing about life. The old truism which says, "what goes around comes back around", is true more often than not. Just when we think we can cast an opinion on someone who is caught at fault:
Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Galatians 6:1 NLT)
Yes that old deceiver the devil is waiting in the wings for us to cast a slur against someone else. To find fault, to criticize, to gossip. Just because we don’t think we are guilty of "that" fault, we feel we have the right to condemn someone who is guilty. So we hold our sanctimonious heads up in the air and proceed to judge.
Little do we know, that it won’t be long before something very similar or even worst comes down our pathway. That thing we said we would never think, or do – watch out – it’s right there waiting to tempt you – pushing you into a fall! Galatians 6:2 has the proper response:
2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 (NLT)
Yes, when we bear the burdens of others in prayer and petition for their repentance and restoration, this fulfills the mandate that Christ has upon our life. It also has a way of freeing us from falling into the same error.
Far too many times we don’t heed this advice and then something else occurs. We fall into a similar trap as the one who was bound, and then we find out what it’s like to suffer in a fault that you find it difficult to get out.
Grace suits all of our case,
5 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:15-16 (NLT)
Jesus knew about temptation, He just didn’t know about sin, for He did not sin. His complete reliance on the Father throughout His lifetime gave Him the right to be the sacrificial lamb that broke the chains of death and hell and paved the way for us to receive the Holy Spirit who is able to keep us from falling. And if we should fall, 1 John 1:9 tell us, "he is faithful and just to cleanse us and free us from all unrighteousness."
None of the belong in the judgement seat, because we have a righteous judge who knows how to handle those who transgress. Our job is to be a burden bearer, if not for love’s sake, for no other reason, then to consider ourselves – less we all into the same temptation.
Maria