Luke 9:54-55 No Time For Condemnation

When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them. Luke 9:54-55

Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem and He had sent some disciples ahead into a Samaritan village to get it ready for Him. After the people rejected Him, James and John wanted to destroy the people. Jesus rebuked John and James for wanting to do that.

People are very quick to judge and want to destroy other people. This is very true when the other people do not act or think in the same way. This explains why there are so many different wars and battles going on around the world. People do not agree, so they choose to fight.

Just as John and James were quick to want to destroy the people, so are many believers. Sometimes they are quick to want to destroy another believer, but it is very common for them to want to destroy non-believers.

The world will act a certain way or promote a sinful action because that is who they are. Many believers are very quick to condemn them and want God to destroy them. This has been seen with abortion clinic doctors or terrorists.

Jesus said that the world would reject believers because it rejected Him. Jesus did not go out and start condemning the world because they rejected Him. He still showed love and compassion.

Condemning someone who is doing what they do because of who they are is not showing love. It is not giving the person a chance to change. If Jesus would have destroyed that village, the people would never have had another chance to believe in Him.

Believers can condemn the action, but must be careful not to condemn the person. That is the job Jesus is to do.

When people are not acting correctly or are working against you, know that you are going through what Jesus had gone through. You are not above Him. He went through rejection and still loved the people, so will you.

Take time to pray for the person. Be a shining light of who Jesus is and how He would react. Do not be like the world and condemn right away and be willing to have the other person destroyed. Show God’s love and compassion.

I pray today that you will know God’s love for all people; that God will give you strength when people reject you; that you will not be quick to condemn others; and that you will show God’s love to all people.