QUICK STEPSಮಾದರಿ

QUICK JUDGMENT

Some of my most embarrassing moments happen when I quickly point out an error and then turn out to be the one who was wrong in the first place. I’m very glad that I wasn’t in Peter’s shoes when he tried to correct Jesus!

Quick judgment calls are a necessary part of my life as a registered nurse. I need to be able to assess situations quickly and accurately to help my patients effectively. And I certainly would have trusted Peter as well in an emergency.

The downside to being a quick (and even good) judge of character and situations, is that we end up judging people just as quickly. I don’t believe Peter was judging Jesus when he “reprimanded” Him for talking about his death and resurrection. But he certainly felt that Jesus needed some correcting. “But Peter took Him aside and began to reprimand Him for saying such things.” (Matthew 16:22, NLT).

Imagine Peter’s thoughts when Jesus’ prediction was fulfilled only a few days later. If he had just thought about Jesus’ words before jumping in to cut Him off, he might have been less frightened when He was challenged to die with Jesus (Mark 14).

The problem with quick judgment calls is that they are instinctive. Or in Jesus’ words, “You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s” (Matthew 16:23, NLT). Instinctive reactions have only one goal in mind - to save our earthly bodies from death or discomfort. We don't think about the greater picture when it’s a matter of life or death as we know it on earth. No wonder that Jesus’ next words address the issue directly. “‘If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it’” (v. 24, NLT).

Can you think of a recent situation when a quick judgment call did more harm than good in the long run? What can you do to allow the Holy Spirit to have authority over your earthly instincts?

Let us take some time to ask God for wisdom before acting from our own understanding. And let us make every small and big decision with God’s perspective in mind. “Those who trust their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe” (Proverbs 28:26, NLT).