Looking Beyond Externals - Evangelical Caucus/Devotional

Gracetoyou.org ^ | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church

[metmom]

"My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism" (James 2:1).

Your true worth is based on the value of your soul, not on external considerations.

Jesus is "our glorious Lord" (James 2:1)—the Sovereign One who rules over all His creation, and the One in whom the fullness of God's glory is revealed. John said, "The Word [Jesus] became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). Paul said, "In Him all the fulness of Deity dwells in bodily form" (Col. 2:9).

As God, Jesus shares the impartiality of the Father. He knows that a person's worth is based on the value of his soul, not on external considerations. That's why He always looks on the heart and never judges on externals alone.

That was evident in the way Jesus dealt with sinners when He was still on earth. He never hesitated to confront them—whether they were influential Jewish religious leaders or common folks. Even His enemies acknowledged His impartiality when they said, "Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any" (Matt. 22:16).

Like the Father, Jesus also extended the offer of salvation to men and women of every race, social class, and moral standing. That's illustrated by the parable He told in Matthew 22:1-14 about the marriage of a king's son (an illustration of Himself). The invited guests (Israel) didn't show up, so the king commanded his servants to go out and gather everyone they could find to furnish the wedding with guests. As a result, people of every station in life attended the wedding, just as people of every station in life are called to salvation.

As you have opportunities to minister to others today, don't be influenced by externals such as looks, clothing, or economic level. Do as Jesus did: treat them with compassion and speak the truth without compromise.

Suggestions for Prayer

-Praise the Lord for His impartiality, and ask Him for special grace as you reach out to others today.

For Further Study

-Read Matthew 20:1-16. How does that parable illustrate the impartiality of God?

[metmom]

Studying God’s Word ping

[oldtech]

If a man in a high position in the country seems to do everything wrong, maybe you can’t judge him & shouldn’t , but at the same time what are you to think & how can you respect that person? I try very hard not to judge, but then I really cannot judge others anyway.

[metmom]

I have heard the word translated for judge means to condemn.

We are to check their fruit and by their fruit we shall know them. If their actions are wrong, violate Scripture, then they’re wrong. But I think we’re not to try to judge spiritual state or motivation.

It’s hard to know how to appropriately respond.

[Scrambler Bob]

Does this verse apply to Brothers, fellow believers, or non-believes out there in the world?

Or both?

[metmom]

With every decision we make, we are judging something.

You have to in order to decide the best course of actoin.

The problem I see is that someone does something wrong and when someone points it out, the person immediately retorts with Matt 7:1 to manipulate the other into backing off.

It’s been misused terribly to the point where people are hamstrung by fear of *judging* others.

And I don’t think that’s what Jesus meant at all. We are told elsewhere in Scripture by Jesus Himself to judge with righteous judgment. (John 7:24)

[boatbums]

The problem I see is that someone does something wrong and when someone points it out, the person immediately retorts with Matt 7:1 to manipulate the other into backing off. It’s been misused terribly to the point where people are hamstrung by fear of *judging* others. And I don’t think that’s what Jesus meant at all.

It's NOT what Jesus meant at all. Here's what Jesus said:

“Do not judge, or you will be judged. For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but fail to notice the beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while there is still a beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:1-5)

He's warning about being hypocritical by judging someone when we might be guilty of the same wrong. That negates what we say as well as giving fuel to the rejection of Christ by the accusation that "all you Christians are hypocrites".

The nuns in school used to tell us, "Clean off your own doorstep before you try to clean off someone else's." It's not about never judging another's actions as wrong but rather making sure if we do, we aren't including ourselves in the process. Jesus never said don't judge. That is Satan's perversion of what He DID say.

[metmom]

Thank you.

Your insight always helps clarify things.