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Do Not Judge, November 16
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you
will be judged; and with the same measure you use, it will be measured back
to you.
Matthew 7:1, 2
, NKJV.
I understand how the enemy is working, and I wish to say to every soul, “Judge
not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged;
and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” There are times
when we have to take a decided stand, but in magnifying the Lord be sure that you
do not condemn and make charges against others. It would cause all the powers of
hell to rejoice if our people were to become divided.
The way has been preparing for contention and division. Some are in great
danger of drifting into infidelity. Now let your study be to save these imperiled souls.
I have sorrow, great sorrow, of heart, that they do not understand their bearings....
There is one thing you can do. You can see that you yourselves are in a condition
of repentance. Your hearts need to be converted. The end is near; the time is short.
Plead with God; clear the King’s highway; and lift up the trailing standard on which
is inscribed, “The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” As you advance
step by step, proclaim, “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the
faith of Jesus.”
Moses declared, “Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as
the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye
go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your
understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and
say, Sure this great nation is a wise and understanding people.... Only take heed to
thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes
have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them
thy sons and thy son’s sons” (
Deuteronomy 4:5-9
) (
Letter 30, 1906
).
And the Saviour has plainly said, “With what judgment ye judge, ye shall be
judged”.... Who can stand before God and plead a faultless character, a blameless
life? And how, then, dare any criticize and condemn their brethren? Those who
themselves can hope for salvation only through the merits of Christ, who must seek
forgiveness by virtue of His blood, are under the strongest obligation to exercise
love, pity, and forgiveness toward their fellow sinners....
While you condemn others, the Lord condemns you.... May the Lord move upon
the hearts of the individual members of the church, until His transforming grace
shall be revealed in life and character. Then when you assemble together it will not
be to criticize one another, but to talk of Jesus and His love (
The Review and Herald,
November 30, 1886
).
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