The Benefit of a Doubt

The Benefit of a Doubt In your interactions with others, are you the first to abandon the benefit of the doubt? Or do you always try to assume the best of people? We have all been on the wrong side of judgment at some point in our lives, so we know how much it hurts when someone jumps to negative conclusions about us. But people who love to judge do more than just hurt others; they hurt themselves by assuming everyone around them is judging others just as harshly, even when that’s not the case. When we judge, we push sinners and struggling believers away from the God who loves to forgive. The right to judge is reserved for the Lord. Yet even Jesus did not come to condemn the world, but to forgive, and He did it better than any of us ever will (John 3:17). He forgave those who spat in His face and laughed at His kindness. He forgave those who did not even ask for forgiveness. And He commands that we do as He did. Next time you are tempted to judge someone, pray for them instead. Rather than thinking less of those around you, look for ways you can show them the same love and forgiveness Jesus showed you.