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Monday 12th Week OT
The Institute
June 22, 2015
GOD’S PEOPLE +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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The
next 3 weeks bring us readings from the 2nd part of the Book of
Genesis
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They
accentuate the blessings promised to Abraham and all humankind
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While
the story is basically hopeful, the wrinkles and warts of our race show up
vividly
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Jesus
pinpoints one of these warts, our excessive willingness to judge others
WE’RE TAUGHT TO
JUDGE +++++++++++++++++++++
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Our
education and our ability to live in the day-to-day world both require that we
evaluate matters, test, and decide between this and the
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In
other words, that we make judgments
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Employers,
public officials, parents, and teachers all must make judgments
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Judging
becomes habitual, and to get out of the judging mode becomes difficult at times
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We
catch ourselves, when we think of it, judging everything and everyone around us
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We
judge hair, opinions, ways of walking & vocab
SUGGESTIONS +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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A
few suggestions when we find ourselves judging
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1st
When tempted to judge others in matters not our business or when we have
insufficient knowledge, turn the judging back on ourselves?
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E.g.
“How do I fare in the same matter?”
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Jesus:
“Remove wooden beam from your eye 1st;
then see clearly 2 remove splinter from brother’s”
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2nd
See not judging another as giving myself a rest
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Why
not leave it to God. Take a rest!
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3rd
Remind ourselves that R knowledge of others’ motives, personal problems,
limitations, or strengths is too limited to make a valid judgment
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4th
and finally, couldn’t we look at others’ actions and appearance as instances of
the wonderful variety in the world?
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Instead
of judging, we could see what goes on around us in many cases as some of the
amazing diversity of God’s world
CONCLUSION ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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4
handy tools drawn from a central teaching of Jesus re God’s People
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How
would I fare? / Give it a rest / Limited knowledge / Diversity
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