The Judge Is Standing at the Door

by Terry Wane Benton

"Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door" (James 5:9).

Don’t forget that the Judge is not off in some distant land attending to more important matters than our words and attitudes. He is standing at the door of our hearts and minds, always observing and evaluating how we choose to help or hurt others, how we help or hurt the church, His kingdom, and righteousness. There is an all-seeing eye watching you because you matter, and what you say and do matters.

Grumbling and complaining is a poison that contaminates the minds of others. You must think about giving an account for “every idle word” because they affect others either negatively or positively. They can make or ruin, contaminate, or encourage, but they matter in the battle of good and evil.

James had earlier said that the tongue is a world of iniquity and can affect direction and outcomes like a ship’s rudder or a horse’s bridle. The direction of others is based on what they think and how they think, and words have the power to set a mind going in a bad direction or a good direction based upon what words you throw out into the air.

The Judge is standing at the door! Which side of the battle between light and darkness does He observe coming from your mind into the mix? Words have power! Choose them wisely!