Judging Others

DEVOTION
ROMANS
JUDGING OTHERS?
Rom 14:1-4
14:1 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. 2 One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
NIV
It surely would seem I might be guilty of doing this without even knowing I am. I really have to examine my heart and mind to determine if I actually might be in this condition. How could I do this? How could I be guilty of judging a weak brother or sister in the Lord? I think when, at times, I consider how a person has placed themselves back in bondage by trying to obey some manmade set of rules for righteous living, I may very well be guilty. I know in my heart those rules do not apply toward entrance into the Kingdom of God. I know very well there are no rules or adherence to a set of rules or laws which will gain my salvation. I know, without question I have absolutely no righteousness within me at all and no matter how strictly I follow some set of rules, I still will not have any righteousness. I know this because Jesus is my righteousness. But, there are others who do believe they must follow all these rules in order to feel like they are being holy or righteous. If that is how they approach their faith, who then am I to pass judgment? Who am I to condemn their system of living for God? Can I help them to free themselves from that bondage? Is teaching the truth of God a form of judgment? How can I not judge yet share the truth? I remember Paul Tinlin telling me, “Rich preach the truth, not the problem”. This is how, to teach, without judgment. Yet, I cannot escape my feelings these people need help in understanding the reality of God’s truth. But I must not judge them, or their ideas of righteousness. Even thinking through this as I am writing this, am I doing just that, judging? This is hard. This is not fair. I have to let it go, and simply continue to teach and preach the truth as God directs me and let the chips fall where they may. Lead me Lord, Guide me, inspire me, direct me, and influence me in your ways. Give me your ideas, your mind, your thoughts, your words as I attempt to walk for you.