19 September | Teens
«Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”» Luke 6:36-38
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to judge others? Sometimes, without even knowing the whole story, we already make a judgment. We think, or rather, we believe we know the motivations behind people’s attitudes. But Jesus teaches us about this: we should not judge. Period. Instead, we should be merciful, just as God is merciful to us.
God knows every detail of our lives, our thoughts, and our intentions. He is the only one who can judge fairly. Remember, we are called to be witnesses of the Gospel, not accusers. When we judge others, we often forget to look at ourselves and our own flaws. Jesus reminds us that the measure we use to judge will be used against us. That is, if we are harsh and critical with others, people will be like that with us too.
Instead of judging, Jesus invites us to love and forgive. He teaches us to look at others with compassion and understand that we all make mistakes and need mercy. When we forgive and treat others kindly, we are showing God’s love in action.
Take Action
Make a personal challenge: For a week, whenever you feel like judging someone, stop and think of some-thing positive about them. Try to understand their situation and offer a word of encouragement instead of criticism. Remember, being merciful and non-judgmental are attitudes that please the heart of Jesus.