Romans 2:1 states, ‘Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.’

Often sins most clearly noticed in others are ones that have taken root in us they say. Are we maybe committing the same sins only in more socially acceptable forms? Are we saying one thing to someone hypocritically and then doing it in a way we don’t think is the same? Do we not like that ‘something’ we know about someone else, but refuse to see that ‘different form’ in us? For instance, do you wonder ‘what people are thinking’ when they hear about ‘another’s adultery,’ but you fail at holding yourself accountable for mentally thinking about or daydreaming about someone other than your own spouse during the day and think nothing has been done wrong? Your thoughts do count. In Matthew 5:28 Jesus himself says, “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery in his heart.” We need Jesus’s help in cleaning out all the corners of our lives. Come to his word and read and learn.

In the bible there is a parable about a woman committing adultery and the casting of the first stone. The people with the stones had judged her and wanted to give her what she deserved. The law stated if a woman was found in adultery she was to be stoned to death. She had went against the law. But what is better? Truly put yourself in her place. If that was you and your particular sin, would you want justice or mercy? Shouldn’t we treat others the way we want to be treated? The bible says love covers a multitude of sins. But what about the sin? Jesus says to the woman in John 8:10… “Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?” Verse 11 states, ‘She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her,’ “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” He didn’t condemn or ignore the woman’s sin. The woman has been spared her life even though sinning against God. But Jesus’s words ‘go and sin no more’ would tell her that Jesus expected her to change and to stop sinning, that he loved her and he didn’t approve of her doing this. Jesus can not dwell with sin for he is holy. His thoughts are not our thoughts. He is God and he is our authority. He loved this woman but not her sin. Jesus knew she needed help and desired a change of heart through all this and that she would need Jesus’s help. Why? Just being in the Lord’s presence she would have instantly felt and knew more intensely than before that she’d been doing wrong and realized she desired to change things and didn’t want this way of life anymore. She had met the living Lord. She knew she had to do something about this wrong in her life. She knew that she had been sinning and now knew she needed his help and desired to repent and ask Jesus for forgiveness and to be cleansed of it all. Jesus Christ is the only way to obtain forgiveness and to be cleansed of all our sins too. This woman was being given a new chance for a brand new life and wanted to deal with her sin. She didn’t want it anymore. Jesus is the only way sin can be dealt with in this life. He came for us all and died on the cross, to provide the sacrifice needed for our sin. God’s word tells us narrow is the road and not many find it. Jesus is this narrow road. The woman is totally dependent upon Jesus to provide her with his saving grace through faith, and all that she needs to change to be able to live this new life in him that she now thirsts for.

How about judging by ‘the worlds’ standards; power, wealth, status, pleasure, and beauty? These false values are not from Christ, but they are from this world. They are worldly values and thus not God’s values. Jesus and his Word are not of this world. But because of his great love for us he sent us his word so we can understand things. God tells us worldly standards are only distractions that will lead you to a distructive end if you don’t realize it. They will only serve to entangle you and waste your time and energy, and hurt you in the end. These are not lasting Christ-like values that God says we should focus on. In fact we need to do the opposite and walk away from thinking, speaking, and acting like these are what we are running after in life. If Jesus Christ doesn’t focus on them should you even care or spend time on such things? James 4:4 states, ‘Ye adulterers and adultresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.’ Strong words telling us that whatever wrong things we may choose to do, go against God, and go against his all encompassing love for you and for your well-being. Those false values and strivings of this world will not be a part of eternity and so have absolutely nothing in common with God and what he values. It is about yourself and not about thinking correctly from God’s viewpoint of what’s right and what’s wrong for yourself. Your eyes need to get off yourself and to get and stay on Jesus Christ my friend. Friendship with the world is the opposite of what God says to have. It goes against God’s great love for you and what he knows you need most. Which is him, his forgiveness, and his values so his word (the bible).

Here’s an example of what Jesus wants us to focus on… Let’s just look at four women that happen to be listed in Christ’s genealogy from Matthew 1. From verse 3: #1) Thamar (Tamar) – she prostituted herself  with her father-in-law to gain an heir for her deceased husband’s lineage. The story is found in Genesis 38 if you care to read the whole story. Verse 5: #2) Rachab (Rahab) – she was a prostitute who hid Israelite spies. Verse 5: #3) Ruth – a Moabite woman who came from pagan roots. She married Boaz. Verse 6: #4) ‘of her that had been the wife of Urias’ (Bathsheeba) – committed adultery with King David. All of these women had ordinary lives and none were pillars of society. And some we are told of their shady reputations. But God chose to show us his love in this writing and that he can choose anyone in life and show them his love, no matter their story. God had his own reasons for including these women in Matthew 1. Maybe God wants to show people his heart of love and concern for everyone and hopes that they desire a new life in him, and that he has something real to offer them for the rest of their lives and for eternity. This too shows us that we should come and repent of our sins to Jesus too. If you’re reading this don’t you think he could have planned on you reading this? He tells us to come just as we are even now. He tells us we can be forgiven and have a new life in him and become new creatures. Jesus is telling us through these women’s lives how he accepts anyone who comes believing in him, through his grace by faith. We aren’t our sin if we come to Jesus and repent. We can be rid of the weight of sin that burdens us. Read the KJV bible for yourself and see. Start in the new testament like with the book of John, then try Romans.

If Jesus can look beyond a person’s bad reputation, outside appearance, wealth, poverty, station in life, and all the rest, so can we. In fact we should and need to. If Jesus looks at a person’s heart, so should we. We need to practice this until we get it straight and of course we’ll need his help for we cannot do it by ourselves. Look to these four women as examples of how God looks at people. Women he chose to have written about in the bible, noting them because he loved them and shows us as it says in Romans 8:28, ‘And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.’

Christ didn’t come to condemn. He came to save. In John 3:17 Jesus says, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” Did you ever read about Jesus in a story where he didn’t ‘come with love’ to talk to a person about their sin? There was no loud voice, no oppressing against their will, no putting down, no intolerance, and no side-lining the issue. Only humbleness, lowliness, love, and grace. Isn’t he the best example of how to be and live? Just the best example of how to treat and love the other person, and ourselves too.

One more thing. Jesus does want us to be able to ‘judge’ right from wrong, or what is sin. His word, the bible, will give you the truth and discernment you will need to know the difference between them. The biggest issues of the day are in the bible too. Make sure you take the time for yourself each day and educate yourself from his perspective. A biblically doctrinal church is also a good place for fellowship and hearing the word. Start with looking online at a church’s statement of beliefs and what their doctrine is. It should all follow what’s in the bible for it to be doctrinal. And the bible itself has to be not written by any one man or by any group that is ungodly. This is why I just stay with the KJV bible, one that has Jesus’s words in red print and also has the chapters of the bible indexed for you, making it easier to find passages you might be looking for. Selfishness, haughtiness, pride, and hypocrisy are all just a few examples of sin. All are ‘heart’ issues, that need help cleaning it up. And Jesus is just the person to help you, and all of us, do it. Proverbs 4:23 states, ‘Keep thy heart with all diligence: for out of it are the issues of life.’ So true my friend. May God bless you.

Whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, Jesus is coming back one day!