Hugh Latimer, an English Bishop in 16th Century, once said:
“Don’t be too hasty to judge or condemn another person. Love is not quickly offended.
“Yes, the world is full of offenses, and quite ready to be offended. I think that if our savior were here upon earth again and should talk with a woman at the well as he once did, I think there would be some among us who would be offended with him. We would think ill of both him and her.
“Beware of rash offenses and rash judgments. If my neighbor does something that upsets me, let me go to that neighbor and speak about it. But to judge a person instantly without knowledge is a mistake. Follow this rule: seek your neighbor’s good and not your own. I must use my liberty so that my neighbor will not be hurt by it.”
What strikes me is that he wrote this about 500 years ago. Yet, his words still offer direction for how we should treat the people around us. Like his world, ours is filled with quick judgments and rash conclusions of people. I wonder what it would be like if everyone made a concerned effort to see each other from God’s eyes and treated each other the way Christ treats us. Even if others won’t, you can. Start today.
This week’s reading:
- Monday – Acts 2
- Tuesday – Acts 3
- Wednesday – Acts 4
- Thursday – Acts 5
- Friday – Acts 6
Please Pray for:
- The St. Paul Church family.
- Those who are unwillingly absent.
- Those who are grieving and depressed.
- Ongoing Building Renovations, Modifications.
- The United Methodist Church.
- Our nation and our leaders.
- The World