A jury of your peers

Last week, I was called to jury duty downtown. While a bit hard on my schedule, I never doubted going to jury duty (we live in a county where only 20% of people show up for jury dury!), but hoped I would not be selected as I had a very busy week and had things that needed to be done at work and home. I had been called once before but was not selected, and found myself hoping that would be my fate this time.

Sure enough, I was selected to be on a jury. And this was not your run-of-the-mill civil suit or contract dispute. This was a criminal case; an aggravated robbery charge. As the guilt/innocence part of the trial went on all day Tuesday, it became evident that this 36 year old man was guilty of holding a 21-year old girl up with a gun. During the punishment hearing, we learned about this man's history and his three prior felonies and other misdemeanors thrown in. With that many felonies, the bookends of time served in jail are from 25 to 99 years. We ended up giving him 45 years after the State had asked for 60.

As I left after it was all over on Wednesday and was thinking about how I just took 45 years of a man's life away, I began to think about the obvious analogies to God not ever judging us that way, and how he never says to us, "well, that's four lies, ten homeless people you ignored and twice you got drunk - sorry, it's eternal gnashing of teeth for you." I thanked God for how He treats me so differently than that and for His unfailing grace.

But then I began to think about something else. When I first walked into the courtroom, I already knew it was an aggravated robbery case. When I saw the guy sitting across from us, noticed his expression, and looked at his dress, my first thought was: "guilty."

Thinking about this first, yet unfounded, impression, I began to wonder, "do we do that same thing spiritually?" Think about it. How many people do you know or see all the time where you think, "there is no reason for me to even try to share Jesus with them. It's hopeless. I might as well focus my energy somewhere else." We judge people spiritually all the time, don't we? I do. I size them up, look at their past, disect their attitude, and decide whether or not to share my knowledge of Christ with them.

Don't we drift towards those that we feel we could effectively persuade? The lovable, the kind, even the popular. Is this the example of Jesus? Let's look:

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." - Luke 6:37-38 NIV

or...

"Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. Stop criticizing others, or it will all come back on you. If you forgive others, you will be forgiven. If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving--large or small--it will be used to measure what is given back to you." - Luke 6:37-38 NLT

The part that strikes me the most is where He says "give, and it will be given to you." If we give Christ, and give Him freely, without judging, we will receive Him in return. And verse 38 tells me that the gift of Christ will be so big and so unbelievable that it will have to be pressed down and smashed together to have enough room for it all. What an incredible thing to have too much of!

While it was stressful and a struggle for me to fulfill my civic duty, and judge a fellow man for his actions, I just have to hope the right thing was done. As for my spiritual duty? The example of Jesus is enough for me.

RK


As always, I appreciate you reading and appreciate your feedback just the same. I look forward to seeing everyone again real soon.