If I were you. ..

Sometimes when you look at the situation you see a neighbor or friend is in and we have an opinion about what is going on with them. .. it usually goes like this. .. If I were you, I would or would not have done, or said it the way you have. .. If I had lived during the Old Testament, I would not have complained in the wilderness like the children of Israel, I would not have denied Jesus after seeing all those miracles, I would have given up all my riches and followed him if that had been me you might say. .. but. .. I think if it had been you in each of these situations. .. you would have done exactly what those individuals did at that time. why do I say this you might ask. ..? Well. .. you have the advantage of knowing so much more than those individuals who were living in the moment during each of these situations. .. you know the end result. .. not only do you know the end result, you have all the facts after the fact and now your opinion allows you to be the judge and jury over what you have read.

But the word of God says. .. in Matthew 7:1-3, 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. .. And why behold the the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but consider not the beam that is in thine own eyes.

And so should it be in your daily walk toward each other. .. If I were to walk in your shoes or you in mine. .. we would in fact do exactly as the other has done, for it would be based upon each individual experience . .. your journey. ..a journey that is flawed as the man or woman that we are. .. such is why we need God's Grace and Mercy on a daily basis. .. Such is why we tread on shaky ground when we express those opinions that seem to judge and condemn others based upon what we think. .. and yet. .. we seek mercy when life seems to bring darkness in our lives.

Sometimes not having an opinion is a good thing. .. James 1: 19 states. .. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. ..

And sometimes we get religious and try to make the point anyway using God's word. .. But. . James 1: 26 says, If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridles not his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

James 2:8-9

If you fulfill the royal law according the scripture, thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. .. you do well. .. But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin and are convicted of the law as a transgressor. ..

If one falls short. .. it is not our calling to judge them or boast as to how we would have handled the situation. .. Instead, we should (James 5:16) Confess our faults one to another, and pray one for another, that we may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. ..

So let us pray for each other. .. May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. ..Amen.