p. 391 | JUDGE NOT by J. S. Miller

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 18, 1901

JUDGE NOT.

By J. S. Miller

J. S. MILLER. (Sanitarium.)

“JUDGE not, that ye be not judged” (Matt. 7:1), are the words of our divine Master, spoken unto us. This is a loving command. It is loving because it requires us to refrain from either holding evil sentiments or speaking unkind words to or of any person. If I tell Brother A that Brother B does not live as he should; that he is vain, etc., I am not speaking kind words of Brother B. Love does not prompt me to utter those words; enmity does. I virtually say that if Brother B lived as I live, he would be all right. Hence Christ is not made the standard, but self. Even if Christ were taken as the standard, which He is, I, an imperfect and an unrighteous judge, am not capable of giving a righteous decision.

But why not judge others? God has given the reason—“that ye be not judged; for with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged.” Then should we not be careful how we judge others?

The Spirit of God is a Spirit of mercy. Let us have that Spirit, that we may be merciful, and that we may obtain mercy. Matt. 5:7. How natural for us to find fault with, or criticise, our brethren! It is a spirit that comes from that same heart “which is enmity against God.” The renewed, unselfish heart is too full of love to God and our fellow men to contain envy, hatred, evil speakings, criticisms, and the remainder of the apostle’s category found in 2 Tim. 3:1-5.

We are to be loved as we love; to be treated as we treat others. “He that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword.” Rev. 13:10. It is, then, an act of love and mercy that God has commanded us to judge not. This command, as all others which He ever gave, is given in love; for He is love, and all His works are righteous. We are living in perilous times, times when Satan is making every effort to deceive. He is working with “all power and signs and lying wonders,” and will deceive, if possible, the very elect of God.

At this particular time when God is preparing many missionaries to go out in the broad field to labor for Him, we may rest assured that Satan will employ agents to criticise, judge, and find fault with those who are leading out in the work of preparing missionaries for God. Dear brethren, we know that this is the Lord’s work; so let us not enlist on the side of the devil by doing his work; that is, by becoming “accusers of the brethren.” By casting all at the feet of Jesus, and submitting our wills to His will, we may be led straight over these rough and thorny places without fear of the otherwise overpowering forces of the evil one. May God have mercy on us, and strengthen us for this time! Let us pray always for this work of preparing missionaries, for the leaders whom God has chosen, and for all engaged in His work. The Lord tells us that “the prayers of a righteous man availeth much.” We then may be in such a condition that our prayers will be heard and answered.