THURSDAY 21ST JUNE 2018 JUDGING OR TEACHING?

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: THURSDAY 21ST JUNE 2018
THEME: JUDGING OR TEACHING?
MEMORISE:
My brethren, be not many masters, knowing
that we shall receive the greater
condemnation. James 3:1
READ: Acts 28:1-6
1 And when they were escaped, then they
knew that the island was called Melita.
2 And the barbarous people showed us no
little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and
received us every one, because of the
present rain, and because of the cold.
3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of
sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came
a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his
hand.
4 And when the barbarians saw the
venomous beast hang on his hand, they said
among themselves, No doubt this man is a
murderer, whom, though he hath escaped
the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
5 And he shook off the beast into the fire,
and felt no harm.
6 Howbeit they looked when he should have
swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but
after they had looked a great while, and saw
no harm come to him, they changed their
minds, and said that he was a god.
MESSAGE
In a bid to evade the verbal chastisement of
the word of God coming from the mouth of
fellow believers, some Christians quote these
words of Jesus in Matthew 7:1-2:
“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.”
Such Christians conveniently forget the
words of 2 Timothy 4:2, which says,
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out
of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
longsuffering and doctrine.”
While it is true that some Christians today
are quick to judge others for the situation
they are passing through, it does not mean
we cannot declare the counsel of God
whenever we are so moved by the Spirit of
God to do so. The question is, what is the
difference between having a judgemental
attitude and declaring the whole counsel of
God through teaching or preaching? Just
like vengeance, judgement also is the
prerogative of the Almighty God. As
demonstrated in the story of the adulterous
woman, He alone is the accurate and
righteous Judge. From that story, we see
that man's judgement can be faulty, because
the one judging others may be guilty of the
same sin (John 8:7-9). Only God is without
sin, therefore He alone is competent enough
to pass judgement. Indeed, He has passed
judgement through His word, and He will
confirm this judgement through the Lord
Jesus Christ on a day He has appointed (John
12:48, Romans 2:16).
To be judgemental is to judge wrongly.
Many are prone to doing this, and this is the
reason why we were warned not to judge.
Paul's experience in today's Bible reading is
a typical example of the error of man's
wrong judgement. The Lord had just spared
the lives of Paul and those whom he was
travelling with on account of Paul's right
standing with Him. While the apostle was
gathering sticks to increase the heat of the
fire that was keeping them warm, a
poisonous snake caught him by the hand.
Some of the native people of the land where
they were shipwrecked jumped into the
conclusion that Paul was evil and that was
why nemesis was still after him, even
though he had managed to survive
shipwreck (Acts 28:4). How wrong they
were! Let us therefore be cautious before
drawing connections between events
because our knowledge is limited. Let us
allow the word of God speak the judgement
of God by itself and not insert our own
speculations and motives into the fray.
ACTION POINT:
Study to show yourself approved unto God,
a workman that needs not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy
2:15).
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Kings 23, Acts 14:19-15:11
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 7: WONDERFUL STORY OF LOVE
1. Wonderful story of love;
Tell it to me again;
Wonderful story of love;
Wake the immortal strain!
Angels with rapture announce it,
Shepherds with wonder receive it;
Sinner, oh, won’t you believe it?
Wonderful story of love.
Chorus:
Wonderful! Wonderful!
Wonderful, wonderful story of love.
2. Wonderful story of love;
Though you are far away;
Wonderful story of love;
Still He doth call today;
Calling from Calvary’s mountain,
Down from the crystal-bright fountain,
E’en from the dawn of creation,
Wonderful story of love.
3. Wonderful story of love;
Jesus provides a rest;
Wonderful story of love;
For all the pure and blest,
Rest in those mansions above us,
With those who’ve gone on before us,
Singing the rapturous chorus,
Wonderful story of love.