More Words In Red

A person has the right to read the words in red as coming from a wise man, a prophet, who lived long ago, or they can be read in the perspective as coming from the Messiah. The most important aspect is how it affects what you think and do. How we live is our legacy. Its what we leave behind.
I was thinking as I read these words this morning that it almost goes two ways this judging thing. Its wrong for us to judge ourselves against other folks.
This goes two ways. One time not long ago I read a blog that said they were more Christ like than someone else. Wow ! Measuring up against someone else gets us in lots of trouble. The idea of cloning humans is offensive to most of us, on several levels, yet we so often try to copy other folks as much as we can, thinking we will have life better or look better or people will like us better. We are judging our own self image in the mirror of another. Not a good plan.
Now to get back on track. None of us knows the whole story of another soul. We just don't. You might know your family well, but there may be some hidden fact that has caused them to act a certain way or react a certain way. And no one, and I mean this 100% is not able to hear that small still voice that tells them they are not behaving the best and let that voice be the judge for them. That little inner voice is gentle enough to change a person and never makes them feel backed into a corner, or defensive. It comes in the right tone, at the right time, and with no agenda.
So here are some more words in red that we all need to be reminded of now and again. Wise words, no matter what your belief system is.
Matthew 7
Judging Others
1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 "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?
4 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?
5 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.

Can't help but add a few words of commentary on this little speech in words of red. They are pretty good and say things far better than I can.
"The effort to earn salvation by one's own works inevitably leads men to pile up human exactions as a barrier against sin. For, seeing that they fail to keep the law, they will devise rules and regulations of their own to force themselves to obey. All this turns the mind away from God to self. His love dies out of the heart, and with it perishes love for his fellow men. A system of human invention, with its multitudinous exactions, will lead its advocates to judge all who come short of the prescribed human standard. The atmosphere of selfish and narrow criticism stifles the noble and generous emotions, and causes men to become self-centered judges and petty spies.
The Pharisees were of this class. They came forth from their religious services, not humbled with a sense of their own weakness, not grateful for the great privileges that God had given them. They came forth filled with spiritual pride, and their theme was, "Myself, my feelings, my knowledge, my ways." Their own attainments became the standard by which they judged others. Putting on the robes of self-dignity, they mounted the judgment seat to criticize and condemn.
The people partook largely of the same spirit, intruding upon the province of conscience and judging one another in matters that lay between the soul and God. It was in reference to this spirit and practice that Jesus said, "Judge not, that ye be not judged." That is, do not set yourself up as a standard. Do not make your opinions, your views of duty, your interpretations of Scripture, a criterion for others and in your heart condemn them if they do not come up to your ideal. Do not criticize others, conjecturing as to their motives and passing judgment upon them. "
~White~