Overlook instead of Judge by: Frances M. McCrory-Meservy 20 July 2014

We overlook something when we pretend it did not happen.  If someone calls us a name, we pretend to be deaf; if someone says we are stupid, we pretend they did not say it.  If someone says we are going to hell, we pretend they did not say it.

Christians need to be really good at pretending in order to overlook an offense.  But it goes further than that.  We should be quick to forgive or we will not be able to pretend for very long.  Whereas if we forgive, it is gone and not there to irritate us. 

We should never judge another person because we are not God.  He is the only one who is allowed to do that because he can see inside a person's heart and head to know their intent.  We can't.

If we start to judge others, we will be judged by the very people we judge.  We are not perfect and they will find that flaw no matter how small it is or how long they have to take to find it.  You will eventually hear, "Aha!"  Leave the judging to God.

Jesus said from the cross, "Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing."  We should remember His example.  If we remember that they do not know what they are doing, it will be easier to forgive.

Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
Proverbs 19:11

Proverbs 19:11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression. NKJ

Overlook: : to fail to see or notice (something): to pay no attention to (something): 3 a: to look past: miss b: ignore c: excuse

1 Pet 4:14-15 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters.

James 1:19-20 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Mat 7:1-3 "Judge not, that you be not judged. "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?

Luke 6:37 "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

John 7:24 "Do not judge according to appearance, ....

John 8:15 "You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.

John 12:47 "And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

Rom 14:10-13 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: "As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, .....

1 Cor 4:3-5 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.

Col 2:16-17 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

James 4:11-12 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

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