"Do not judge others, and God will not judge you; do not condemn others, and God will not condemn you; forgive others, and God will forgive you. Give to others, and God will give to you. Indeed, you will receive a full measure, a generous helping, poured into your hands – all that you can hold. The measure you use for others is the one that God will use for you."

Luke 6:37-38

It is all about our attitude. If our attitude is mixed with pride and self-righteousness, our words will come back to haunt us. What we say may be true, but the way we say it must always be with humility and a sense of our own shortcomings.

We should encourage others to do right. Christians should stir up one another to loving attitudes and actions. But we are all growing in Christ, so we must be neither judgmental nor patronizing. Instead, we should lovingly build up one another. Any other attitude reveals a self-righteous heart.

Lord, may our expectations of others be tempered by an awareness of our own weakness.

The better we know ourselves,

the less we will criticize others.

Our Daily Bread – February 7, 2002