Ask before judging

Joshua 22: ¹⁵ When they went to Gilead—to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh—they said to them: ¹⁶ “The whole assembly of the Lord says: ‘How could you break faith with the God of Israel like this? How could you turn away from the Lord and build yourselves an altar in rebellion against him now? 

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²¹ Then Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh replied to the heads of the clans of Israel: ²² “The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows! And let Israel know! If this has been in rebellion or disobedience to the Lord, do not spare us this day.

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²⁴ “No! We did it for fear that some day your descendants might say to ours, ‘What do you have to do with the Lord, the God of Israel? ²⁵ The Lord has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you—you Reubenites and Gadites! You have no share in the Lord.’ So your descendants might cause ours to stop fearing the Lord.

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Confused I sat pondering what I was going to talk about. I know just what they will want to hear about, “Sex.” I was pleased that I thought of my topic for this group of teens and was ready to tell them about everything they needed to here.

When we got together, they surprised me with questions about GOD and a closer relationship with HIM. I felt foolish!

• My assumption about other folk’s relationship with GOD is sometimes off the mark.
• My assumption that other people aren’t serving and I’m the only one doing the work is usually way off the mark.
• My assumption that other folks are serving wrong and I’m serving correctly is mostly off the mark.

Just because I’ve given up a certain sin doesn’t make me clean enough to look at another person like they are a worse sinner. GOD wants me to recognize what people are doing in HIS name and praise HIM that HE has more servants than anyone can count.

HIS kingdom is vast and I should not think HE is not in control of any situation. GOD will deliver!

• Are you judging someone?
• Do you think you are alone in service?
• Can you praise GOD for what people are doing instead of judging their efforts?
• Won’t you join in with someone helping them worship the way they worship GOD?