Replies to post #62942 on Bible (Bible)

[Long2Retire]

You cannot judge the motives of another person. You can judge their actions and even make evaluations about their actions, but you cannot judge the human heart.

Motive is appropriately judged all the time in our court system. It's how mercy is applied.

That is exactly what Jesus meant when He said, “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matthew 7:1 NKJV). Another way to translate this would be, “Condemn not, lest you be condemned.”

I judge this scripture to mean that I will be judged by the same standards I apply to other people.

[mathew633]

Engaged in a Great Work
But I realized they were plotting to harm me, so I replied by sending this message to them: “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?” (Nehemiah 6:2–3 NLT)

If you are serving the Lord, wherever that might be, you are doing a great work for God. Maybe you’re an usher at church. You’re doing a great work for God. Maybe you’re a Sunday school teacher. You’re doing a great work for God. Maybe you’re a worship leader. You’re doing a great work for God.

One person’s work for God is not greater than another person’s work. It is not about better or worse, greater or lesser. It is all about faithfulness—faithfulness in doing what God has called each of us to do. I will be judged according to what the Lord calls me to do, and you will be judged according to what He calls you to do.

Nehemiah was doing a great work for God as he rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. But his enemies tried to convince him to come down from the wall for a meeting, and they were relentless. It was a diversion to get Nehemiah off the wall so they could attack, but he refused to come down. Nehemiah said, “Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply” (Nehemiah 6:4 NLT).

Whatever work God has called you to do, do it all the way to the end. Take each day and treat it as though it were your last, because you don’t know how long you’ll be running the race of life. You don’t know where you are in your race. You may think you’re at the beginning when, in reality, you may be toward the end. You may think that you’re toward the middle when actually you’re more toward the beginning. That is why every day counts, every lap counts, and every moment counts. Finish the work God has called you to do.

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