Category: Judgement

Judgement day

Ruth Kirk

We must all stand before Christ to be judged (2 Corinthians 5:10; NLT).

O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me (Psalm 139:1; NLT). 

There is a sense in which every day is judgement day, because we all stand before Christ whenever we pray, and he already knows everything about us.

Seeing him face to face is like looking into a mirror. Through his eyes we see with perfect clarity the truth about ourselves, and about all we think, say, do and feel.

All we can do is to acknowledge our sins with complete openness and honesty, telling him how sorry we are.

Then, we receive God’s mercy and forgiveness, for which we give thanks.

Lastly, we can move forward again, leaving our guilt behind. Having been renewed, we are ready to start again, clinging tightly, as always, to God’s love, help and support.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9; NIV).

References

We shall see face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12; NIV).

Before a word is on my tongue, you, LORD, know it completely (Psalm 139:4; NIV).

Anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Matthew 5:28; NLT).

He forgives all my sins (Psalm 103:3; NLT).

He restoreth my soul (Psalm 23:3; KJV).

 

Judgement

Ruth Kirk

We must all stand before Christ to be judged (2 Corinthians 5:10; NLT).

Introduction
We will all be subject to judgement. However, this judgement may not be quite what we have traditionally been taught to expect. Today’s blog details what was recently shown to me in prayer.

Choices
During our time on earth, we make many choices about how we relate to God, other people, events, experiences, our planet and  even ourselves. These choices shape the person we become at every stage of our lives. After death, we will all face judgement before Christ.

What is judgement?
Judgement is a profoundly just, merciful and loving consideration of a combination of factors:

  • The body and life situation God gave us at birth.
  • All we experienced during our exile here.
  • Everything we felt, thought, said and did.
  • What we made of ourselves, our opportunities, and our suffering.
  • Who and what we became during the course of our lives.

Several stages
Judgement is a process with several stages. It will include:

  • Looking directly at every aspect of our life, choices, behaviours, attitudes, speech, thoughts and actions. This will be like looking at ourselves in a crystal-clear mirror, and seeing right to the inmost core of our soul, with the eyes of Christ.
  • Fully understanding why we decided on the choices we made.
  • Recognising with complete honesty everything we faced and dealt with during our lives.
  • Admitting all the hurt and damage we caused to others, and repenting fully.
  • Asking ourselves how much we accepted, loved and helped, all other people, including the poorest and least powerful.
  • Considering the overall value of our life objectively.
  • Seeing clearly, and acknowledging fully, what we amount to in total.

This might sound alarming, perhaps even terrifying. However, throughout the whole process, we will be standing before Christ, fully supported by God’s Spirit of love, understanding and mercy.

Reacting to our judgement
In response to seeing and fully understanding ourselves, our choices and our lives, we will inevitably react by experiencing a mixture of profound emotions, including shame, sorrow and repentance. This healing process includes catharsis, purgation and purification.

I believe that through this healing process we will receive God’s forgiveness and love. It will also enable us to forgive and to love both ourselves and others completely.

Conclusion
Whether we know it or not, we are indissolubly one with God from the eternity before our birth, during our exile on earth, and for eternity beyond our death. Our judgement will take place within the context of this oneness.

As a result of our judgment we will experience forgiveness, healing and complete reconciliation with God. This is salvation, paradise and eternal bliss.

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s (Psalm 103:2-5; NLT).

Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43; NLT).

References

Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely (1 Corinthians 13:12; NLT).

The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40; NIV).

You, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness (Psalm 96:15; NLT).

To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness (Daniel 9:9; RSV).

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow (Psalm 51:7; NLT).

Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool (Isaiah 1:18; KJV).

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing (Isaiah 35:5; KJV).

The spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).

 

My inner critic

Ruth Kirk

Parents, don’t be hard on your children. Raise them properly (Ephesians 6:4; CEV).

Lord,

There’s my mother’s voice again:
My inner critic, causing pain.
Her words still echo, deep within:
I register their slightest sting.

I’ll toss aside her censure, now;
Her view of me, I’ll disallow.
Her verdicts, Lord, I won’t accept,
And all her power, I’ll reject.

I’ll treat her guilt-trips with disdain,
Refuse let her cause more pain,
And hurl her harshness far away:
I will not let her spoil our day!

My Beloved is mine and I am his (Song of Songs (2:16; NIV).

References

I said to their children in the wilderness, “Do not follow the statutes of your parents or keep their laws or defile yourselves with their idols” (Ezekiel 20:18; NIV).

God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).

He loves us with unfailing love; the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the LORD! (Psalm 117:2; NLT).

 

Judgement and forgiveness

Ruth Kirk

Today’s blog has two stages, which came to me one after the other as I was praying very late last night.

1. Judgement

I will deal with all your oppressors (Zephaniah 3:19; NRSV).

Judgement won’t be down to me,
But you, Lord,
For you, alone,
Will deal with my oppressors.

I  won’t need to speak,
Or even see, Lord,
For you, alone,
Will handle my transgressors.

I’ll have peace of mind
From now, for good, Lord,
For you, alone,
Will talk with my aggressors.

In due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for all their deeds (Ecclesiastes 3:17; NLT).

2. Forgiveness

If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you (Matthew 6:14; NLT).

Yahweh, we forgive
All those who’ve harmed us;
Please forgive them, too, Lord –
Don’t condemn.

Have mercy on us all,
For we’ve hurt others,
So we are just as guilty, Lord,
As them.

This is our plea, today,
And evermore, Lord:
Yahweh, forgive and heal us all,
Amen.

The LORD forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick (Psalm 103:3; CEV).

Mental illness

Ruth Kirk

With deep thanks to C.A. for her openness and example, this blog shares how I prayed on the morning of 13.11.24.

Why wasn’t I buried like a stillborn child, like a baby who never lives to see the light? (Job 3:16; NLT).

Lord, you know that my mother has been my lifelong persecutor. You understand that her death some years ago made no difference at all to my mental health. She lives on in my mind, and in my poor body’s response to every anxiety-creating trigger, however small. You grasp that I internalised her voice and her behaviour towards me from birth onwards.

You understand how the emotional consequences of her judgement, criticism, rage, violent destructiveness, domination and coercive control continue to torment me. You know all about the post-traumatic shock disorder caused by her abuse. Nothing about my years of anxiety, fear, panic attacks, agoraphobia, perfectionism, dread and depression is hidden from you.

Lord, I have always felt worthless, because I was treated as if I were worthless. Whatever I did, said, felt and believed was seen as worthless. Whatever I wanted, or was good at, or achieved, was seen as worthless. The only things my mother valued about me were those she herself did, or enjoyed.

All this didn’t apply just to me, of course. My mother always made it abundantly clear how much she despised everyone who was not like herself, especially those who somehow managed to stand up her domination. She loathed them most of all. The only people she “liked” were those who admired and served her. They could do no wrong.

My mother often said that she knew me better than I knew myself. Even my thoughts were not private or safe, because I fully believed she could read my mind. She was always ready to interrogate, disapprove, criticise, threaten, and verbally attack me whenever I said or did anything she did not like. I lived in fear, and grew up fully aware that I did not want to be alive. You already know all about this, Lord, because you really do know everything about me.

Now I’m 72 years old. I’ve always tried so hard to do my best, despite the constant stress of living with mental illness. This has involved a lot of suffering, and taken a lot of courage. My mental health has improved to some extent, though depression continues to be a chronic problem. Meanwhile, self-esteem is non-existent, and whenever my PTSD is re-triggered, anxiety and dread still make life unbearable for many months at a stretch.

You know that I have always felt worthless, and that this is because my mother treated me as if I were worthless. I experienced myself as worthless, and have always felt as if others would much prefer it if I were not around.

Lord Jesus, after all this time, is it still possible for me to recover from the damage my mother did to me? You once said that anything is possible if a person believes in you. You know I believe in you. Please heal my trauma, and release me from the consequences of my mother’s toxic behaviour, I beg you. And please do the same for all those throughout the world who have been damaged by coercive and abusive relationships of every kind.

I ask all this through your own dear name. Amen.

You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it (John 14:13; NLT).

References

You can do anything and no one can stop you (Job 42:2; NLT).

“Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes” (Mark 9:22-3; NLT).

O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! (Psalm 139:1-6; NLT).

One God

Ruth Kirk

There is one Savior, one faith, one baptism, one God and Creator of all, who is over all, who works through all and is within all (Ephesians 4:5-6; TIB).

O my Father and my Mother;
Jesus Christ, my Friend and Lover;
Holy Ghost, my Sister, Brother –
God of Love: there is no other.

Far beyond imagination,
Time, beginning, and cessation,
In your hand lies all creation –
You are God: my sure foundation.

Hid in darkness, wise, resplendent;
All-inclusive; all-transcendent;
I, your offspring, frail, dependent –
Your disciple; your attendant.

Thus, I follow, though benighted,
Here, on earth, alone and slighted,
Judged, found wanting, and indicted –
Yet, God, we are still united.

Moses went into the darkness where God was (Exodus 20:21; BST).

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him (Philippians 3:8-9; NLT).

 

God doesn’t judge

Ruth Kirk

He will not always accuse (Psalm 103:9; NIV).

God doesn’t judge
When we can’t cope,
And doesn’t judge
When we can’t pray.

God doesn’t judge
When we can’t praise,
As long as we love God
Each day.

God understands
When we can’t cope,
And understands
When we can’t pray.

God understands
When we can’t praise,
As long as we love all
Each day.

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else (1 Thessalonians 3:12; NIV).

References

The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust (Psalm 103:13-14; NLT).

You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength (Mark 12:30; NLT).

The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding (Isaiah 40:28; NLT).

Love your neighbour as yourself (Leviticus 19:18; NLT).

Love the stranger (Deuteronomy 10:19; NKJV).

Show love to foreigners (Deuteronomy 10:19; NLT).

Love your enemies (Matthew 5:44; NLT).

We cannot earn salvation

Ruth Kirk

What must I do to be saved? (Acts 16:30; NLT).

We cannot earn salvation:
We can only follow Jesus.

We can’t avoid temptation:
We can only cling to faith.

We can’t demand forgiveness:
We can only plead for mercy.

We can’t escape Christ’s judgement:
We can only seek His face.

Seek His face evermore! (Psalm 105:4; KJV).

They will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads (Revelation 22:4; NLT).

References

Salvation
Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household (Acts 16:31; NLT).

To the one who does not work [that is, the one who does not try to earn his salvation by doing good], but believes and completely trusts in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God) (Romans 4:5; AMP).

Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34; NLT).

Temptation
Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed (James 1:124; NIV).

We do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin (Hebrews 4:15; NIV).

Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak! (Matthew 26:41; NLT).

Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked (1 Timothy 1:19; NLT).

Forgiveness
I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners (Matthew 9:13; NLT).

Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my Judge for mercy (Job 9:15; NIV).

Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most (Hebrews 4:16; NLT).

If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you (Matthew 6:14; NLT).

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us Matthew 6:12; NLT).

Judgement
We must all stand before Christ to be judged (2 Corinthians 5:10; NLT).

All who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken (John 12:48; NLT).

Now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12; NIV).

I like to think…

Ruth Kirk

Be kind and compassionate (Ephesians 4:32; NIV). 

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged (Luke 6:37; NLT).

I like to think I’m kind,
But I’m judgemental.

I like to think I care,
But I’ve no heart.

I like to think I love,
But I’m resentful –

Help me to change, Lord:
Show me where to start.

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1; NLT).

References

Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly – not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God (1 Peter 5:2; NLT).

I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart (Ezekiel 36:26; NLT).

Love your neighbor as yourself (Luke 10:27; NLT).

Change your hearts and stop being stubborn (Deuteronomy 10:16; NLT).

Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously (Isaiah 55:7; NLT).

Surrender your pride and power. Change your hearts before the LORD (Jeremiah 4:4; NLT).

Hate and love

Ruth Kirk

Do not nurse hatred in your heart (Leviticus 19:17; NLT ).

Introduction
Hating others is very common nowadays. Hateful speech and actions are present in our streets, schools and workplaces, in newspapers and online, and wherever there is disagreement, conflict and war. Some countries are even having to introduce detailed legislation about who we should not hate.

Sadly, such legislation can generate bitter arguments about who has been included, and who has been left off the list. So how can we deal with this issue in such a way that everyone can understand it, follow best practice, and help to make the world a better place?

A simple answer
The answer is very simple: Don’t hate anyone. Don’t even judge anyone. Instead, love everyone, just as the Bible teaches.

Three steps
This might sound like a huge challenge, so how can we learn to do it? I’ve broken the process down into three steps, which take only a few seconds to follow. These three stages can be summarised as: STOP, SORRY, and LOVE.

Step 1: STOP
The moment we notice ourselves having a judgemental or hateful thought (or feeling, or impulse), towards someone, whether in the flesh, on TV, in a newspaper, or online, etc, we need to say, “STOP”, to ourselves immediately. As Saint Paul writes: “Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5; NIV).

Step 2: SORRY
Next, we can say, “Sorry, Lord”, before replacing our judgement with thanks to God for the person concerned, then asking God to bless them. With regular practice, this process becomes an inbuilt reflex the moment we catch a judgemental thought entering our mind.

Step 3: LOVE
The final step is to make a conscious choice to love the person. If circumstances allow, we can smile at them, or say, “Hello”. If appropriate, we can make a pleasant remark to them, or, if needed, offer our help in some simple way. Let’s make their day a little better for having crossed our path. Remember that if the person isn’t physically present, we can still pray for them.

Developing a new habit
To begin with, we might not become fully aware of a judgemental or hateful thought until some time after the moment has passed. We don’t need to beat ourselves up about this. Instead, we can still recognise what we have done, say we are sorry, ask God to bless the person, then pray for them.

With practice, the conscious recognition of unwanted thoughts will come more quickly after each event, until eventually we are able to deal with our judgemental thoughts and feelings on the spot, whilst the person concerned is still in sight.

Exactly the same approach applies when we have critical or hateful thoughts about someone we read about, or see on TV, or who simply passes through our minds unbidden.

With practice, this method of noticing and correcting our judgemental and hateful thoughts gradually becomes an established habit. Critical attitudes and impulses towards others wither away, unrewarded by our attention and indulgence.

What the Bible says
Here are some references to remind us of what the Bible says about who to love. Remember that the answer is very simple: Love everyone:

– May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else (1 Thessalonians 3:12; NIV).
– Love your neighbour as yourself (Leviticus 19:18; NLT).
– Love the stranger (Deuteronomy 10:19; NKJV).
– Show love to foreigners (Deuteronomy 10:19; NLT).
– Love your enemies (Matthew 5:44; NLT).

Conclusion: becoming like Christ
In conclusion, let’s begin a world-wide movement against judging and hating others, beginning with changing ourselves. Instead of hating, we can move towards loving everyone, because: “Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs” (Proverbs 10:12; NIV). In this way, we can become just a little more like Christ.

This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ (Ephesians 4:13; NLT).

References
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things (Romans 2:1; NIV).

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you (Matthew 7:1-2; NLT). 

The Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:18; NLT).

A reading from 2 Peter 1, 5-8; TIB.
Make every effort to add to your faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, familial love; and to familial love, truly unselfish love. For if these qualities are yours and they are growing in you, they will protect you from becoming ineffective and unfruitful; and they will bring you to a true knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ.