Christian love sees the fellowman under the cross and therefore sees with clarity. If when we judged others, our real motive was to destroy evil, we should look for evil where it is certain to be found, and that is in our own hearts. But if we are on the lookout for evil in others, our real motive is obviously to justify ourselves, for we are seeking to escape punishment for our own sins by passing judgement on others, and are assuming by implication that the Word of God applies to ourselves in one way, and to others in another. All this is highly dangerous and misleading. We are trying to claim for ourselves a special privilege which we deny to others.
–Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Oh how many times I fail at this one.
To judge others is much more enjoyable than looking for evil within myself.
I much prefer to justify myself by passing judgment on others.
I definitely like to think of how a sermon applies to someone else than it does to me… “God, I sure hope _______ is listening this morning.” Or “God, I wish ______ was here to hear this one.” Instead of “God, I see where I fail at applying this message, help me to be more faithful to You and Your Word.”
If I could develop the compassionate eyes of Christ, then I would see my fellowman as someone deserving my love and help rather than my judgment.