Rush to Judgment

Devotionals — Tue, 21 May 2024 08:03:23 +0000

Following a blow-out that one of our daughters had on her way back to college a few years ago, we were parked at a gas station unloading Mary’s trunk to retrieve the spare tire. We were three hours from home and still three hours from our destination with Randy and me in our car and our two daughters in Mary’s car.

Mary’s trunk was filled with back to college items, which she and her sister Amy were helping their father stack on the pavement. I was preparing to also help when someone appeared out of nowhere as I stepped out of our car. A stranger with dirty, stringy, greasy hair and a wild look in his eyes that instantly made me uneasy – asked if he could help, and I promptly replied that my husband was putting the spare tire on the car and we didn’t need any help. I was thinking to myself, I hope he accepts this answer and walks away. He basically gave me the creeps.

Just as I said we didn’t need any help, Randy told me he couldn’t get the last lug nut off, and he had tried with every wrench in his toolbox.

Aaron, or should I say, Crazy Aaron as the girls dubbed him, pipes up, “I’m a mechanic. I can help you. There’s an auto parts store down the road, I can take you there to get the right tool.” Randy agreed and jumped into a beat up old pick-up truck with Crazy Aaron and headed to the store.

They came back a little later and Crazy Aaron popped that last lug nut off with the new tool. Randy whispered to me, “He drives like a psychopath! I’m glad we’re back!” Aaron proceeded to put the spare tire on, he seemed eager to help, and Randy pulled me aside to softly tell me that Aaron had shared that he had recently lost his job. Randy told me he wanted to pay him generously for helping us. I had cash in my purse and Randy took out more than I would have guessed Aaron’s help was worth. But God had already convicted Randy to give him above and beyond what seemed the appropriate amount.

Aaron with the stringy, greasy, dirty hair and wild look – had tears in his eyes and his voice trembled when he saw how much money Randy was giving him. He said to us, “You have no idea what you have done for me today! Thank you so much!”

I felt about an inch tall. My rush to judgement now had me swimming in shame. I apologized to him for brushing him off so quickly when he first arrived on the scene. And what was he doing on the scene? He had run out of gas and was able to coast to the same gas station where we pulled into after the blow-out. He had to call his dad and plead for money to put gas in his truck. His dad had just arrived and gave him twenty dollars and told him, there wasn’t going to be any more where that came from.

Then, Aaron turned around and saw us and came over to help.

I still think about that day and wonder, did God send Aaron to help us, or us to help Aaron? The answer is both. God crossed our paths to help each other and to meet our needs – and He also taught me not to make quick assumptions about people.

You know, when Aaron smiled, he didn’t look so scary any more. He left us with a smile that day as he drove off in his pick-up truck, driving a little reckless if you ask me.

We all smiled too, as he drove away, absorbing the events that had transpired that hot August afternoon. God had been very good to all of us, even Aaron.

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)

Lord, help me to not make a rush to judgement when I meet someone and thank You for how You work to meet our needs. Amen.

By Kathy Cheek
Used by Permission

The Only Totally Fair Judge!

Thoughts_About_God — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 09:03:07 +0000

“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:6-8

Sometimes I cringe at how often we make judgments about people’s behavior or actions from things we hear or read or see: tidbits of gossip – (internet – is bad for that), rumors or slanted opinions (the media). If you have ever been on the receiving end of these judgments, you have experienced how painful it is to be judged on false information.

But often, we ourselves can be guilty of spreading rumors. We, too, judge or criticize others on partial truths without knowing the whole picture. Sometimes people take credit for deeds others have actually accomplished and it doesn’t seem fair. It is our humanness, isn’t it? We are sinners and we are weak.

I find it so encouraging to know that God always judges fairly. He knows everything about us. What we do, what we think, what we could have done. He knows and has given us our gifts and talents. He knows the circumstances surrounding our actions, yet His attitude toward us is always enveloped with love.

Dr. Bill Bright, in his book, God, Discover the Benefits of His Attributes, states:

“Because God is just -He will always treat me fairly.”

Not only does He judge us fairly regarding questionable thoughts and actions, He rewards us for the good we do. As JI Packer states in His book, Knowing God Through the Year:

“To reward good with good, and evil with evil, is natural with God. The retributive principle applies throughout: Christians as well as non-Christians will receive according to their works.”

Sometimes life doesn’t seem fair. But remember this, God is fair!

“God will see that each person sooner or later receives what he deserves – if not here, then hereafter.” – JI Packer

God, when I see and hear about the suffering of the thousands of people throughout the world, I sometimes wonder about the fairness of what is happening. It is so comforting to know that You will sooner or later give each person what he/she deserves. Thank You! Amen.

by Katherine Kehler
Used by Permission

judging others | Thoughts About God

Rush to Judgment

FURTHER READING

The Only Totally Fair Judge!

“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:6-8

Further Reading