By:     The Preacher's Wife  

   The Lord's Prayer – we probably all know it by heart – those who have seriously tried to live for  and love the Lord.  And probably some of those who have not given their heart to the Lord.  This is practically the first thing we learn from the Bible, with the possible exception of John 3:16.  But I wonder in this day and age if there are many who live by this code.  With the things that are going on around us today, in the world and in the world government, sometimes it hard to believe that there are people who say they love the Lord and who live for Christ and say they are Christ's, but they cannot forgive their neighbor and leave them in God's hand.  The Bible says in Matthew 7:1-2: "Judge not, that ye be not judged.  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."  Few realize the judgment of God upon those who judge others unwisely.  For God's word says that the same judgment with which we judge others will be upon us. 
    It seems so simple to say of this one or that one, "Well, I don't believe I would have done such a thing.  How could they do that?  They must be a terrible person to have done that!"  Who are you, my friend, to say what you would have done in that situation?   The Bible itself says why: "For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."   It is hard to comprehend the wisdom of God's word.   God is so just!  He gives just what you need in order to make you see that compassion and love is what He is all about!  If you need to be taken down a notch and He wants you to be a bit more humble and less judgmental – what better way than to take the very things that you hate in other people and have them happen to you and the ones you love.  God truly works in strange ways and His wonders are mighty and true. 
 Matthew 7:3-5 -- "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?  Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?  Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." 
   I believe what God is saying here is that none of us is perfect.  We all make mistakes – we all blunder.  If you know someone who is perfect, I would like to shake his or her hand.  But I guarantee if you knew that person's life from front to back, there is something there that he or she has done in his or her life that they are ashamed of.  Just because you don't know about it doesn't mean it did not happen.  If you say you are without sin, the Word of God calls you a liar.  I think Jesus said it best when he said to the people who were going to kill the adulteress, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her."  And they all turned and left because there was not one who could say, "I am without sin." 
   Brothers and sisters, today in this time of trouble and living in the world we live in and have to face everyday, let us be like the Son of God, Jesus Christ, and have love and compassion for all souls.  We may not like the way they do, we may not like the things they say or the spirit they say those things in, but it is our duty as Christians to forgive them, love them, and leave all in God's capable hands.  If there is one thing that God does with a fine tuning, it is to repay.   Let us look at what the scriptures say about this:   Romans 12:19-21 "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.  Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."  In other words, my friend, we are NOT to get angry and rejoice when others have a downfall.  We are to reach down, pick them up, give them a helping hand and love them.  It is those who deserve love the least who need it the most.  Believe me, my friend, I have been there and you probably have, too.   I know there have been some times in your life when you felt like you were so low you could fall off a piece of paper.  But someone – someone – was there to help lift you up.  There are many in the little city of Cleveland today that could use love and compassion.  Give a little away tomorrow and see how good it makes you feel.  Be warned, my  good friend, God is not mocked.  He knows our very heart and God is just and true to judge rightfully. Don't be harsh with your fellow man.    Matthew 6:14-15:  For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.  It could not be plainer.  Heed the word of God.  Forgive your neighbor even as God forgives you. 
 Amen.