Pastor John,
I loved last night when you were talking about what it is to lie, to not be a stickler for words, and not to judge by what you see or hear. It all really hit home for me. I have been praying that God would rearrange the way I think and feel, to get rid of Christian ways of thinking, and to stop being led by fear.
When one wants to do well at something, one often practices…how do I “practice” judging things in the Spirit, rather than by appearance? On that note, though it is said all the time, what does it really mean and how does one truly “live in/walk in the Spirit?” I feel the difference between when I am and when I’m not, though.
I know I am holding on to ideas and tendencies that hold me back, and I really want God to replace my thoughts with His.
Thank you,
Anna
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Thanks for writing, Anna.
We can put righteous judgment into practice, but we cannot practice making righteous judgments. God’s judgment will be different in situations that may be very much alike. Let me give you an example, from Proverbs 26:
[4] Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
[5] Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Solomon’s counsel in both cases is right. But when replying to a fool, when are we to do the one instead of the other? Only the Spirit can let us know. This is the importance of receiving the Spirit, Anna, and of following it. Only God knows what is right in each situation. We are helpless without Jesus guiding us. We can watch a wise person handle a situation, and then, in a similar situation, imitate exactly what that righteous soul did and said, and be dead wrong! The lesson which godly people teach us is not to imitate their exact words and deeds so much as to imitate their dependence on God for wisdom in every situation.
Perhaps the closest we can come to “practicing” making righteous judgment is just to be good observers of those who know God, and then follow them in their faith. Let the godly examples of those around you be your “practice”.
Pastor John