“And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.”
- Jude 1:22-23
In our pursuit of right and wrong, and doing what pleases God, one of the areas of improvement that Christians need to identify is the risk of judgment. By embracing what is good and what is right, our approach can sometimes seep into our interactions with others. The result is in imposing our values onto others and turning others away when we feel they do not meet "our standard". But who are we to judge, when we are sinners ourselves on our journeys? Faltering, having doubts, struggles with our faith--these are part of the process in finding our way in deepening our relationships in Christ.
God does not ask us to judge, and instead, asks us to rescue others from judgement. He calls us to love others, and to show mercy.
Yes, God wants us to turn away from the sins. But as He has shown us mercy, we, too, must help others and show mercy. It is by this act of showing mercy that we can be the calming force that can still others. Through us, God can use us to help provide stability and help ground others in their faith in Christ.
To rescue others from judgement, it is not merely rescuing them from others' judgment, but from the flames of judgment that we may have set ourselves. Let us extinguish these flames and be loving towards others.
Reflection: Being honest, reflect and think--has there been a time when you may have judged another due to their struggles in faith? or due to them not being able to act in your image of a Christian? How can you be a better brother, sister, or friend in Christ to that person? How can you show mercy?
~
Thank you, Karyn Lau, for your Bible reflections on Christian Calm Radio. Connect to God and release judgment as you listen to Christian instrumental music, beautiful Christian hymns and choirs, Christian gospel and worship music, Old and New Testament Bible audiobooks.