“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged…” (Matthew 7:1-2, NIV 1984).

I have a wonderful daughter-in-law, who is a fantastic cook with a culinary degree and is very health conscious for her family when it comes to food. A few years ago, she decided to remove gluten from her diet. I thought it was a fad and teased her for her decision. And then, the next time I underwent my annual health exam, my physician discovered I was both iron and B12 deficient. As an oncologist, I was convinced I had a GI cancer. I was relieved to discover I was simply gluten sensitive, secondary to celiac disease.

Rarely have I judged another that I have not soon thereafter found the same problem hiding in my own life. Judging another’s anger, I soon discover my own. Judging another’s greed, I soon discover my own…and on and on.

Jesus was very clear when He told us, “…with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Matthew 7:2, NIV 1984). Clearly, we should not judge others, but feeling the whack of that measuring stick is not always bad. When God lets me see my own faults after judging another:

1. I can choose to change, because of that discovery.
2. I take my place in the same boat with all men, in need of a Savior. I come to understand that there is no evil in man of which I am not capable, were it not for God’s protection. It keeps me alert as I pray, “….deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13, NIV 1984).
3. It diminishes the anger in my life, prevents me from raising myself above others, and helps me find friends in those I might have shunned.

And so, I stay away from gluten, and, because of my celiac disease, I have learned to be a better disciple of Christ.

Dear Father,
Let me not judge others, but when I do, let me see my own faults and change.
Amen