Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.                                                                                              

                                                                                                   Luke 6:37-38 

Today: Read Luke 6

Jesus teaches it. It is not difficult to understand. It is as clear and succinct as any instruction I have ever found in scripture. It is what I will call the principle of reciprocation. I believe that the problem is found not with this truth rather in our inability (or refusal) to live it out. This reality is found in the greater context of Jesus’ description of what a godly and Christ-like life is really to be. Do we honestly illuminate the glory, grace, and kindness of God in our attitudes and actions? I challenge all of us to examine our lives in light of this brief but powerful instruction from our Savior.

Do not judge, and you will not be judged

If I say that an individual will be eternally lost unless they are in Christ that is not a judgment rather that is simply stating biblical truth. If I say that Jesus is the only way to salvation that again is not a judgment, it is biblical fact. Let’s not confuse speaking truth with that of judgment. The world would like the church to be silenced regarding truth largely because truth brings conviction. But the church must continue to speak the truth while simultaneously avoiding judgmental attitudes. “Judging” is accompanied by multiple definitions however the essence of this word is to separate, to divide, to pick out, to select, or to choose. At the heart of judging is an attitude of partiality, something we are instructed to avoid in the church (James 2:1-4). We can judge others based on almost anything: appearance, economic status, ethnicity, or personal preferences. The bottom line is this: when we judge, we are placing ourselves under the same criteria in which we judge others. Yes, we should desire for others to come to saving faith in Christ however judgmental attitudes do not serve to bring the lost any closer to the cross but forgiveness, mercy, kindness, and love do.

Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned

There is an important passage of scripture that reveals what we tend to do in the area of condemnation. We like to compare ourselves to others. Consider the following:

If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.  But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.                                                          

                                                                                                   James 2:8-13 

Do we see the wisdom is James’ remarks? We like to point out the transgressions of others while overlooking our own. We are all equally in need of salvation and redemption but if we can compare our lives to someone that we select then we can feel better about ourselves. Anytime we run into attitudes of condemnation (and hopefully they are not our own), try asking the individual where they believe they are going when they die. If they respond with “heaven”, then politely ask them on what basis they believe that to be true. If they respond with anything that remotely sounds like pointing to the great life that they have lived, they need the gospel. No one will enter heaven apart from the redemptive power of the cross, applied to one’s life by God as a gift. We are doing nothing but simply receiving salvation by faith in Christ. Remembering this truth will help guard us against attitudes of condemnation.

Pardon, and you will be pardoned

So Jesus gives us two negatives (things to avoid) while also providing two positives (things that we should do). Pardon is the first of these two positive actions. To pardon is to set free, to forgive. It is literally “to release.” I wonder how many Christians are bound by the shackles that accompany a refusal to pardon? Have you been wronged? Jesus says pardon. Are you harboring something against someone? Jesus says forgive. Is there something that you need to release or something in which you need to let go? If we are serious about receiving a complete and eternal pardon from God, we must get serious about the business of pardoning others.

Give, and it will be given to you

Lastly, we are to give. The largest blessings from giving come when we give to those who have absolutely no way to repay us. This kind of sacrificial giving is elevated over that of simply loaning to others. Open hands accompanied by pure hearts and sound motives equals a life in which God can pour His blessing and favor. We are to give in such a way as not even letting the left hand know what the right hand is doing (Matthew 6:3-4). Everything we have is to be used to further the kingdom of God. It is the investment in eternal things that yields fruitfulness.

“For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” This is the summation of the principle of reciprocation. If ever there was a time for the church to rise up and live out Jesus’ instructions on godly living, it is now. We have plenty of scriptural examples of those who have erred in their understanding of what God desires from our attitudes regarding others. Remember Jonah? What about the brother of the prodigal? And who can forget the workers in the field complaining that they had “born the burden” yet received the same as the rest. All of these missed the truth about judgmental attitudes, condemnation, and pardon. Let’s rise above what often passes for Christian faith and determine to exemplify our Savior by loving this lost and hurting world! Remember, as we do, so it will be applied to our lives!