Have you ever tried limiting God’s mercy? Do you judge people?

Have you ever not forgiven someone?  Have you ever wanted to just be mad at someone?  Someone may need God or need to be forgiven but we don’t tell them about God nor forgive them.  This will not limit God’s mercy but I would think if you know God and you believe in God, you would have this kind of mercy yourself!

In the story about Jonah (Jonah 1-4 (NIV)) you read about a man that had such hatred toward a certain group of people, he was willing to run from God rather than give this group a warning from God.  He didn’t want to give the warning because he knew God could forgive them if they got their lives right.  Jonah eventually went to this group with reluctance and warned them on God’s behalf.  They received God’s forgiveness. (Jonah 2:10 (NIV))  The classic is that after they were forgiven, Jonah was still upset. (Jonah 4:1-11(NIV))

Jonah was so angry with these people that he was angry with God for helping this large people group/nation.

Who is Jonah to not want someone to have the grace God has given us?

Judging Others

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.  “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.  “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.  Matthew 7:1-6 (NIV)

In our culture it is so hard to forgive sometimes.  If someone calls you a name, is mean, angry or whatever, it is hard to stay focused on why they are there instead of making it personal and being just like them.

Do you struggle with this?  Do you judge?  Are you willing to show love to people that do not deserve it?  Are you dealing with sin in your life that you need to repent about?  Are you a hypocrite?  Ask God to reveal it to you so that you can see it!