Making A Judgment...

"Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields came to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and said to him, 'Do you certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to murder you?' But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not believe them." Jeremiah 40:13-14

After Nebuzaradan had seized Jerusalem and taken Zedekia and the rest of Judah's princes and nobles to Babylon he left the poorest to tend the land. Gedaliah was made governor over the land of Judah. Gedaliah proved to be a poor governor because he refused to judge those before him. Ishmael was sent to kill him, but he refused wise counsel and did not judge the situation for what it was. In the end Gedaliah paid for not judging correctly with his life, and the lives of those around him, for Ishmael killed all that followed Gedaliah.

Like Gedaliah many Christian judge foolishly or refuse to judge at all. They believe they are not supposed to judge, and so foolishly look the other way at the sinful deeds of others. They allow those who walk contrary to the cross of Christ into their life and the lives of their family, and they eventually pay the price, for bad company always corrupts good character. The Bible says in 1Corinthians 6:2-3 "Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?" Judging and condemning are two different things. As a Christian I have no authority to condemn others, but I am fully capable of judging. Don't be afraid to make righteous judgments led by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, they will save you and your family a lot of heartache and trouble!