November 27
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ON JUDGING AND SELF-CONFIDENCE
A poem by ILMA
Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters
If you criticize and judge others, you are judging God’s law
Your duty is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you
God alone has the power to save or to destroy; you can’t judge your neighbors?
When you plan on doing things today or tomorrow, don’t be so certain
How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow; you don’t know the future
Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone
Instead, say “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”
Don’t be over-confident and talk of being certain about the uncertainties of life
You are boasting about your own pretentious plans and that is pride
All such boasting is evil and it is sin, rely only on the truth and God’s will
When you know what you ought to do and then not do it, it is sin.
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MEMORY VERSE
Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you– James 4:11
Read: James 4:11-17
Human nature tends to always look at the wrong things or the negative side of others. Only by God’s grace can we see others as beautiful creatures made my God himself. We are cautioned by James to refrain from judging others because it is God’s law you criticize when you do that. He also reminds us not to rely on ourselves and plan without consulting God for that is pride. The only thing we should boast is that God has given us so much grace and mercy.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think God prohibits us from judging others?
• Why do we need to rely on God at all times? How does pride develops when we constantly are independent
Tag Archives: self-confidence
ON CRITICISM AND SELF-CONFIDENCE Poem Devotional
October 31
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ON CRITICISM AND SELF-CONFIDENCE
A poem by ILMA
When you become a believer, you mustn’t speak ill of each other
If you criticize and judge one another, you are attacking God’s law
The only thing we need to do is to obey God’s commands
You can’t think that the decree is only for others to follow
God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge
He alone has the power to save or to destroy
What right do you have to judge your neighbor?
You can’t predict or foresee what is going to happen in the future
You can’t assume that your plans are going to all happen
How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow?
Your life is like a mist, it is there now but can be gone next day
As believers, you need to rely only on God’s grace and plans
You cannot predict things will happen for that is a form of boasting
All boasting is evil and remember it is sin to know what to do and not do it.
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MEMORY VERSE
Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. – James 4:11
Read: James 4:11-17
Why is it easy for us to criticize than to affirm someone? It is part of our fallen nature to point other people’s sin or weaknesses rather than examine our own faults. When we talk evil of others or criticize them, we are questioning God’s creation. All of us are created by God, so what right do we have to say that his creation is evil or mediocre?
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think assumption and presumption is a form of boasting?
• Why does James consider boasting as evil? What is the source of arrogance?
• What are the consequences of judging or criticizing someone?
• Why is omitting to do what you know you need to do is considered a sin?