1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.
We are sometimes quick to jump to conclusions. There are times we should be discerning about matters. God has given us wisdom, insight, and understanding, and we should use these to make wise decisions in life. There are many black and white issues in this world, defined particularly by the Bible. We cannot compromise about these things. Likewise, we can “judge” what we see based on how God has already passed judgment on things. In essence, we are not judging but God is. The next chapter (ch. 5) of this letter will give a good illustration of the type of discernment that is needed in the church.
But sometimes we judge based on feelings, fears, cultural forces like shame or embarrassment, selfishness, our own agendas, and so on. There is freedom when we just let God work out things. It seems as if the Corinthians were becoming the judges over whether or not Paul was faithful to his word. In this chapter, he shows that God is the ultimate judge. If our conscience is clear before God, based on the criteria outlined in the Bible, then we should have no fear to stand before God at judgment. Our sins are covered over by the blood of Christ.
This passage challenges me to look carefully at the motives of my own heart. Can I honestly say that my conscience is clear? If not, there is no better time to repent than right now!
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