DATE POSTED
Wednesday, June 10, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read Matthew 7:1-2 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the New Living Translation (NLT).

¹ “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. ² For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

We spend a lot of time trying not to worry about tomorrow, but today’s truth brings a sobering reality: Each day, we are actively laying the foundation for how we ourselves will be judged. It can be tempting to feel exempt from this rule. We might assume Jesus’ warning only applies to the ungodly or the unsaved. But let’s not alter the Word of God. Jesus delivered these words during the Sermon on the Mount, and they apply to everyone who claims to follow Him.

Why is Jesus so uncompromising here? Because human judgment is deeply flawed. Earthly judges carry personal prejudices; they might throw the maximum penalty at a crime they personally abhor, or show unearned leniency to a cause they privately support.

But Jesus is our perfect, completely unbiased Judge.

Ask yourself this critical question: If you stood before a judge today, and you knew your sentence would be based entirely on how you have judged the people around you, would your mind be at ease, or would you be terrified? Your answer reveals whether you are letting God be God, or if you are disobediently sitting in His judgment seat.

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Before Christ: Pointing Fingers

Before Christ, our natural instinct is to deflect. We shift the focus away from our own flaws by magnifying the failures of others. God exposes this trap clearly through the Apostle Paul:

“Therefore you have no excuse or justification, everyone of you who [hypocritically] judges and condemns others; for in passing judgment on another person, you condemn yourself, because you who judge… are habitually practicing the very same things.” — Romans 2:1 (AMP)

When we live according to the world’s standards, we point fingers at others without realizing those same fingers point right back at our own hidden sins.

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After Christ: Restoration over Condemnation

When we pass from death to life in Christ, our mandate shifts from condemnation to restoration. Our merciful God never points out a problem in us without showing us how He prefers we handle it. The Word gives us a two-step checklist for an “After Christ” mindset:

• Step 1: Look Inward First. “Search me, O God, and know my heart…” (Psalm 139:23). Jesus told us to take the log out of our own eye before reaching for the speck in our neighbor’s eye. We have more than enough to manage in our own spiritual walk without policing everyone else.
• Step 2: Restore with Gentleness. “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path.” (Galatians 6:1). The goal of a believer is never to execute judgment, but to help a falling brother or sister overcome evil.

A Lesson in the Lack of Perspective

I learned the danger of worldly judgment firsthand. I was leading a church committee and voiced my frustration about a member who had been completely absent from our activities. I quickly received a lesson in humility. Another member informed me that this individual was actually out serving the Lord almost daily while the rest of us were at our regular day jobs.

Because I didn’t have the full picture, I judged poorly. That experience taught me to keep my eyes on the kingdom work assigned to me. Too often, we stress over what others are or aren’t doing. But God holds us accountable for the specific work He gave us individually. Let’s leave the judging to the Only One holy enough to handle it.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father,

Your Word is a mirror, and today it challenges me deeply. Forgive me for the times I have stepped into Your seat of judgment, pointing out the specks in the lives of my brothers and sisters while ignoring the logs in my own. Forgive me for judging situations where I did not have the full picture.

Holy Spirit, search my heart today. Uproot any hidden hypocrisy, pride, or resentment. Help me to focus entirely on the unique assignment You have placed before me. When I see someone stumble, give me a heart that longs to restore them in gentleness, rather than a mind that rushes to condemn them. Teach me to give the same radical grace and mercy to others that You have so freely poured out on me.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray that one of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, as you will also find that option on this page. Friends, I encourage you to find a Bible teaching church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk while you invite God to work through you to bless them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that while also growing in your faith as you worship with fellow believers!