Our next Wonderfully Weird Command is "Judge Not," which leads us to discernment in our character rather than judgment that causes people to have a log in their eye! To begin, let me share some "Eye" humor. Why did the cross-eyed teacher quit her job? She couldn't control her pupils. Okay, I admit, that is a baaaaad joke! But then again, who am I to judge.
Are you an overly judgmental person? Just as in Jesus' day, we experience overly judgmental people. Jesus said in Matthew 7:1-2, "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 (NIV)." Someone who is judgmental is a critical person who speaks the truth without love and has no room for grace or forgiveness. A judgmental person is more concerned with confronting errors than making good connections, and a big indication if a person is overly judgmental, they jump to conclusions and are poor listeners.
Listening is the most important thing a person can do to overcome a critical and judgmental attitude. Listening gives us the ability to interpret reality. As well, it is the only time people can learn. If you are not listening, it's impossible to discern. Listening is the only thing a person can do to drive trust to increase and grow. Listening is vital in reaching solutions to issues, problems, and needs, personally and relationally. I'll mention that listening gets rid of emotional battles that occur from not listening. Are you listening?!
To truly listen is to know, experience, and understand God's Wisdom.
If you do not know God's Wisdom objectively, you have some work to do. Listening cannot be assumed, and believe it justly happens. A person must seek listening if they expect things to change.
Listening requires four factors to be practical and honest. They are awareness, focus, practice, and modeling. First, awareness is being aware that listening is a learned skill. When not objectively learned, it's called hearing. The second requirement is a focus. Focused attention on the other person, not the voices in our head. The third requirement is listening takes deliberate practice. Don't think for a second; listening just happens; it must be practiced. And finally, good listening must be modeled. The good model is Jesus; of course; however, you must find someone who does it well in your everyday reality as well. Recall what the Apostle Paul said, follow me as I follow Christ (1 Cor 11:1). Do you have a model?
To discern, you must learn to listen, period, and to listen is not to be overly judgmental. I encourage all to check your mind's eye to ensure a log is not sticking out from your eye. I promise if you listen and discern correctly through God's way, your eyes will be healthy, where God's "Good" vision is clear, giving honor and respect through obeying the Wonderfully Weird Command "Judge Not!"
With discernment,