There are two kinds of judgment. One is healthy and one is not. The first kind of judgment belongs to God alone. Only He is capable of judging the true condition of a human heart. The second form of judgment is something Jesus asked us to do. He said we are to judge (examine) the quality of fruit in a persons life. We are asked to judge this way to determine how to help someone who has consumed the rotted fruit of dishonor and a loveless expression of life. Our ministry in their life is to offer them the freshly picked fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. When the sweetness of this fresh fruit of the Spirit bursts into their soul they will be free to judge for themselves how they want to live and hopefully choose the better way.

Let God judge the motives of a human heart. Before you enter the New Year, invite God to judge the fruit of your heart first before you attempt to judge another. This will cause your insight into the life of broken people to be seen through the lens of an experienced mercy and the redeeming heart of God.