Wineskins Contributor・06/09/19

            We love ina culture of evaluation. From birth our height, weight, and developmental stepsare monitored. In school we face standardized tests. One the job we have frequentevaluations. Constant self-improvement, from good to great to excellent, is ourgoal.

            As arecovering legalist, I find this cultural obsession with evaluation can evenaffect how I practice spiritual disciplines. Am I improving in prayer and meditation?Are my disciplines advanced? Am I closer to God? Or at least am I ahead ofother Christians who do not have the discipline I have?

            A portionof the Bible that has spoken to me lately is Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 4:3, “I care very littleif I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judgemyself.”

            Mytemptation is to always be judging myself. Am I good enough? Have I doneenough? Is my faith strong enough?

            Beingunaware of my failings would be spiritually unhealthy, but always wonderingabout spiritual health results in religious hypochondria. Paul reminds me thatI can be certain of my spiritual health not because of what I do but because Ihave encountered the Great Physician, Jesus, who healed me once for all.

            So I do notallow the judgment of others or even my own self-judgment to guide my life.Instead I trust in Jesus who did not come to judge but to save (John 3:17).This trust sets me free to love myself and others with the love God has for me.

            This is thesecret of the easy yoke that Jesus promised.