Judge Not Least Thee Be Judged By the Same Standard

Romans 3:28: "For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law." Paul knew something about "works prescribed by the law." In his former life, he was successful. He zealously obeyed the law, and it brought him only anxiety. Am I doing right? What if I mess up? He became self-absorbed and filled with a kind of performance anxiety. It drove him crazy.


"O Father, give us the humility which realizes its ignorance, admits its mistakes, recognizes its need, welcomes advice, accepts rebuke. Help us always to praise rather than to criticize, to sympathize rather than to discourage, to build rather than to destroy, and to think of people at their best rather than at their worst. This we ask for thy name’s sake. (Prayer of William Barclay, 20th century)

And God said to the soul:
 I desired you before the world began.
 I desire you now
 As you desire me.
 And where the desires of two come together
 There love is perfected

Words above by Mechthild of Magdeburg, Translated by Oliver Davies. From Beguine Spirituality: Mystical Writings of Mechthild of Magdeburg, Beatrice of Nazareth, and Hadewijch of Brahant.