Originally published Friday, 24 October 2014.
For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then? Galatians 5:14-15 (MSG)
My fingers were busy scrolling through Pinterest when I read this quote from Mother Theresa:
“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” (tweet this)
I read it and thought, ‘nice quote’. I even posted the pic of it on Facebook. Then I let it be. But God didn’t.
Ever since I started praying, “Lord, show me how to love” God has been revealing the parts of my heart and mind that need to change.
A few days later, I watched a girl scratch her head and I wondered, “Why has she chosen that hair style? It does nothing for her.”
Then the thought ran through me head, ‘if you judge her you can’t love her.’
I looked again at the girl across the room from me – a stranger – I never learnt her name. I glanced her way and prayed, “Sorry Lord, help me to see her the way you do.”
As the day wore on I found that I couldn’t shake this experience from my mind.
I thought about all the times I judge others. Every. Single. Day.
Each time I meet someone new thoughts run through my head like, ‘why did she wear that?’ or ‘Who would say that?’
When I’m with friends words come out my mouth that are a barrier to loving others, “No wonder that person doesn’t loose weight have you seen what they eat.” or “Did you hear what she did?”
Often I am so busy trying note what I would do differently that I don’t have time to simply smile and say hello. Or after being so cruel in mind reaching out to them seems hypocritical.
I thought back to all the bible verses I could remember about love and one stood out for me, “Love others as you love yourself.”
I looked it up in the message bible: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?
I read it again, and realised,
judgment doesn’t simply limit love, it kills love. (tweet this)
So I’m adding to my prayer, “Lord, show me how to love and help me to see others with your eyes.”
I'm catching myself each time I judge others with the words of Mother Theresa, “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” (tweet this)
And slowly I am changing, slowly I am finding more time to love.
Ponder: Think of a time when you felt judged. Was there any room for feeling loved by that person?
Prayer: Lord, help me to see others with your eyes.
Read Part I and Part II of what God is teaching me as I pray, “Lord, show me how to love”.
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- This was orginally published on my site in July 2014. To read more devotionals like this go to ilovedevotionals.com
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