p. 199 | Judge Not

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 2, 1873

Judge Not.

“Judge not that ye be not judged.” He who spake these words was wise above all others, and well would it be for his children to heed the warning voice of that dear Saviour, coming down to them through the lapse of intervening ages, teaching his little flock the blessed doctrine of forbearance and patience with all men. When we see actions in others that look wrong to us, let us remember, with “that charity that thinketh no evil,” that we are not to be their judges. We know little of the outward circumstances surrounding them, or the influences brought to bear upon their conduct; nothing of the inward temptations, the heart-struggles, they may have to contend with. How chary, then, should we be of censuring them; for what we would condemn as reprehensible may be unavoidable necessity, or, viewed in another light, may seem right to others. There is sometimes a very fine dividing line between right and wrong; let us each, and all, act as our conscience may dictate, not as our self-interest would lead us; and leave the rest with God. We are all short-sighted beings, and the best of us are liable to err, being very apt to take that view of any case that will best promote our own interests. With our own faults we can never be too severe, but ought always to think with consideration of those of others, remembering that we are all little enough deserving of the mercy and kindness shown us by our Heavenly Father. If we do not follow their divine example, and let judgment be tempered with mercy, how can we expect to escape the more just wrath of an unerring God? Let us daily ponder these words in our hearts, and live by them. “Judge not, that ye be not judged, for with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged, and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”—Sel.