By Pastor Don Schatz

Thanks Be to God

You can listen to today’s Devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud Link.

“But you–who are you to judge your neighbor?”
James 4:12 New International Version

I ordered a new couch recently.  I have been looking for a year.  It was hard for me to “pull the trigger.”  One big issue for me was the small size of the swatches of material.  How in the world am I supposed to imagine what a whole couch that color would look like in my family room?  Perhaps you are confident in your ability to do that.  I am not.  So, here’s hoping.  I will know in 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 months.

Pondering that, every time I sit on the old couch to be replaced, something totally unrelated, but at the same time related, comes to mind.  We find ourselves in the Season of Lent in the Church.  A time for introspection, recognition of uncomfortable truth about ourselves, confession, and repentance.  That is our part.  God’s part is that he responds with the assurance that we are forgiven.

But let’s stick to our part for a bit.  The topic of judging others came up in a conversation recently.  That got me thinking.  I thought about Scripture verses like the one from James today.  There are many others like it in the Scripture.  We can be quick to judge others, and often based on no more that a tiny “swatch of the material of their lives.”  In such times, we don’t even bother trying to imagine the whole, big picture of their lives.  A little swatch will do ya!  Or, so we seem to think.

How much better to let God do the judging.  He has no problem seeing the ‘whole’ picture.  That especially includes the heart, mind, and soul of each person.  We trust God.  God is good.  God desires that all should live in the bright light of his love.  The Lord wants to forgive as we turn to him in repentance and sincerity due to our sin.

Where does that leave us, with those around us?  Romans 12:18–“…as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

Copyright, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado