Judging

This from John Fischer this morning.
... the fundamental nature of casting judgment is an inevitable blindness to one’s own faults, and, as in my own case, is usually aimed at the same errors of which one is guilty. I see in others what I am unwilling to see in myself. I am sure this is why Jesus told us not to judge, period. “For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged” (Matthew 7:2). In other words, you get what you give out.
There is always an underlying connection between the thing being judged and the person doing the judging. Why do we see something wrong so clearly in someone else if we aren’t refusing to see it in ourselves? We might not even notice it otherwise. Those who are innocent rarely cast judgment on anyone. There’s no reason to. It’s only us experts who walk around condemning people in place of our own guilt.
How does one stop this wicked cycle? By heeding the words of Jesus and making a continual conscious effort not to judge. He couldn’t have been any clearer: “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged” (Matthew 7:1). It’s the only way to break it. Think of what you want (mercy) and give that out to others. Think of what you don’t want (judgment) and just don’t do it. In fact, if you catch yourself judging someone, check yourself out on the same issue. You’re probably letting yourself get away with your own version of the same thing.