"We Judge Ourselves"

Did you have any movie or TV hero’s when growing up?  What about villains who were they?  What characteristics today for you separate the bad guys or gals from the good?

  

July 23 2017  Reading Genesis 28: 16-17 Psalm 139  VU Page 861 Matthew 13: 24-30,36-43

This morning we heard that Jacob woke from his sleep and said "Surely the Lord is in this place - and I did not know it!"  Well now, I often wonder if all the Christians attending church this morning around the world would agree with Jacob. "Surely the Lord is in this place”   and do I know it? 

Over the years before I entered ministry and even after, I have met and become friends with people in all walks of life.  Some of whom others may consider, just a little better than the devil herself or himself.  Does the devil have gender? A good question for later discussion.   I have personally gotten to know and love prostitutes, drunkards, cheats, thieves, and adulterers.   A short stint in prison ministry in Springhill Nova Scotia Canada, before I entered into fulltime ministry allowed me to become friends with some inmates who had committed murder, and some of these I still consider to this very day, brothers in Christ. Because of my experiences I have come to one conclusion about all these people who have crossed my path, and that conclusion is that you cannot know what is going to come next, nor can you pin down just where God is or isn’t {as many often in their minds do} and or whom God has befriended.  Does some of that fit your own life experience?

I want you to hold onto that thought today - I want you to hold onto it when you meet people that strike you as bad, evil or different.   I want you to hold onto it when you watch the evening news or read the daily newspaper.  I want you to hold onto it when you hear the neighborhood gossip making its rounds and I want you to hold onto it when you feel that you yourselves are often out of Gods reach. 

We do not know what is going to come next, nor can we pin down just where God is or isn’t and what God is about.  This is the message of Jacob's story - the Jacob who cheated his brother and stole his birthright - the Jacob who feared that he would be killed if he stayed at home.  Yet for all that he did wrong God did not abandon him. Jacob’s story is a story for us, read it, study it, it will show you a bit about yourself and about your family, your neighbor and about your enemy.    

Have you ever been in God's presence and hardly noticed it?  Whom has ever looked into the eyes of a newborn and not felt wonder, power and miracle as God gives life.  How many of you in your faith journey suddenly realized that God had been with you long before you knew he was there?  Have you ever been or felt excluded or rejected only to discover God is with you as you suffer?   Have you ever judged or painted a picture of someone only to discover that they or the light around them has shifted - that the person you thought you saw - has completely changed?  Changed for the better?  Have you ever painted a picture of yourself - a picture in which the colors are all blue - all depressed - all unlovable - only to discover that someone really does loves you?  That someone believes in you?  That you are more than welcome in God's presence?  Does that fit with any of your life experience?  Do I hear an AMEN!! 

No one is excluded within the love of our heavenly parent, we are all precious in our Fathers sight.  Judge not folks, not yourself or you neighbor or for that matter someone you may consider evil or your enemy.  This political election on the island of Bermuda has once again brought out the best in some of us, but the worst in others.  While getting out of the heat to have a cold drink in Somerset on Wed I was listening and sharing in local conversations, my conclusion was, it truly is sad how we act, judge others and yes even ourselves at times. 

In the reading from Matthew today we heard the parable of the wheat and weeds. 

Jesus has an instructive message for us today here folks.  

 We do not know what is going to come next, nor can we pin down just where 

God is or isn’t and what God is about.   

Consider Moses - a murderer, King David - an adulterer, the Apostle Paul - a persecutor of the early church, or the disciple Peter - a hypocrite and a coward. How far down the ladder must we go?   Who would think that God would love and work with them?  That God would be present in their lives? That God would continue to guide them and make great out of what man would consider evil?  That God would grant unto them the blessings of the kingdom?   This make no sense within human logical when it comes to what is reject-able and what is acceptable.  But it is true, Why? Because: we can't even be sure that the weeds about us will remain weeds and we who think we are wheat, well, will we be able to remain wheat?   A great theologian and preacher once said:  I suppose, if I get to heaven I’ll be surprised as to whom is there, and I suppose there will be some who are surprised that I made it.

Now may I suggest that often we misjudge ourselves?  So my question is what judgement do you make upon yourself?  Look closely as your judgements reflect yourself.  The biblical answer folk is, that we judge not.  Judge not ourselves, your neighbor, not even those whom you consider evil or the enemy.   No - says the master - for in gathering the weeds you may uproot the some of the wheat along with them.  Wait till harvest time comes scripture tells us.   

Where is God?  What is he doing?  We do not know what is going to come next,

nor can we pin down just where God is or isn’t and what God is about.  But we can be sure of one thing - we can know one truth we can rely on, one fundamental belief - and that is - God will surprise us. 

We are all precious and unique in Gods sight.  We all have special gifts to share with those who are in need, but let us never forget that we all are tainted and have fallen short of the mark.   Even thou God’s love is unconditional and has enough forgiveness for all.   Thanks be to God.                     Bob Marley   " Judge Not"