The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Romans 2:1-8, “Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
2 And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things.
3 But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?
4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
6 who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS:
7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life;
8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.”

Generally speaking, we live our lives in judgment of others. I like my neighbor because _____. I loathe my neighbor because______. It’s interesting how we can forgive ourselves for being judgmental, but we will not forgive our neighbor. What’s more, we live judgmentally while we simultaneously acknowledge that the LORD’s judgment falls upon everyone, including ourselves.

Vinegar is not productive. Neither is a “vinegareous” attitude. In fact, Paul warns us that a judgmental attitude stores up wrath against everyone who judges his neighbor! That probably leaves most of us living in jeopardy!

A close friend of mine tells of having spilled some very hot coffee in the lap of a visiting speaker. Instead of issuing a rebuke (which my friend truly expected), the speaker spoke kindly to him as if nothing-at-all had occurred. The loss of the coffee was not important. That the man had to speak, standing before his audience in soiled clothes, seemed insignificant, also. Perhaps that man remembered the verse that said the LORD “will render to each person according to his deeds” (v. 6).

Those last two verses are diametrically opposed with respect to how God will judge us. We would do well to ponder carefully what the LORD is intending to do. So often, we prioritize our focus on others’ judgments when we would do better to focus on the LORD’s judgments that pertain to us.

Incidentally, I live among some very gracious, Christian neighbors for whom I thank the LORD!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom