Do You REALLY Know?

I was in JC Penney a few years ago just browsing and this woman passed me calling a little girl who was in the shoe section to come on, she was ready to leave. The little girl quickly grabbed a specific pair of shoes and walked over to her, pleading for the shoes. Well being social, I commented they were very cute shoes and would look good on her. The Grandmother proceeded with, “She has more than enough shoes at home and although they are cute, we are not buying them”. The little girl begged for a short while and realized she was not going to win this battle, so the shoes went back to the shoe department.

As the little girl was leaving, her Grandmother began telling me how she provides for the child quite often and her daughter (the child's Mother) do not have a good relationship. She badly berated her daughter to the point I said in my mind, “God should I pray for this woman”; because from listening to her story, I felt the relationship could not continue is this manner, and with prayer, God could heal both of them to mend all hurt and pain between them. I immediately heard from God and He said, “There are two sides to this story”. I understood exactly what He was saying. This woman was not telling the truth; and to form an opinion about the situation without knowing only her half; was sorely unfair to her daughter. So I politely dismissed myself from the situation to go shopping.

How many of us quickly form an opinion and pass judgment on someone just by listening to that person berate someone else? I already know the percentage is high; because very few people are truly Christ-like in their character. Do you know the other person well enough to form an opinion? Have you formed a relationship yourself with that person and know their character? Has that person personally harmed you in anyway to dislike them? And even if they have, we are to still forgive! I first want to remind you of this: Jesus is the ONLY one who has that Authority and Power to judge, and He judges justly and fairly, with a deep love for all of us – and forgiveness. NEVER be quick to judge anyone, even if you do know their story; it's not the character God wants us to have, nor practice!

But love your enemies and be kind and do good [doing favors so that someone derives benefit from them] and lend, expecting and hoping for nothing in return but considering nothing as lost and despairing of no one; and then your recompense (your reward) will be great (rich, strong, intense, and abundant), and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind and charitable and good to the ungrateful and the selfish and wicked. So be merciful (sympathetic, tender, responsive, and compassionate) even as your Father is [all these]. Judge not [neither pronouncing judgment nor subjecting to censure], and you will not be judged; do not condemn and pronounce guilty, and you will not be condemned and pronounced guilty; acquit and forgive and release (give up resentment, let it drop), and you will be acquitted and forgiven and released. (Luke 6:35-37 AMP)

Remember when you point one finger at one person, ten are pointing back at you! So strive to obtain Christ-like character. Take time to build a relationship with God, so you can have healthy relationships, as well as discernment.