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"The tongue can speak life or death," warns Proverbs 18:21. But before our tongues even move, our hearts have already passed judgment. Let me tell you about Bob and the day he learned just how deadly wrong our rush to judgment can be. Picture a sixth-grade classroom, anxiety thick in the air on presentation day. Bob stands there, sweating, watching the classroom door. His teammate James is nowhere to be seen. The clock ticks. Other groups present. Still no James. Bob's blood begins to boil, his young mind already writing a story of betrayal and laziness. "He doesn't care about anyone but himself!" The words burst out of him like venom, his voice cracking with anger and fear of a failing grade. Oh, how the Book of James haunts us here: "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" (James 1:19). But Bob, like most of us, was doing exactly the opposite. The truth, when it came, hit like a sledgehammer to the chest: James's father had died suddenly the night before, his heart giving out without warning. While Bob had been rehearsing his presentation, James had been watching paramedics try to restart his dad's heart. Solomon's wisdom cuts deep here: "The first to present their case seems right, until another comes forward and questions them" (Proverbs 18:17). How often do we, like Bob, build entire courtrooms in our minds, acting as judge, jury, and executioner, all based on the flimsiest evidence? The Apostle Paul writes that "Love believes all things" (1 Corinthians 13:7), but we're often too busy believing the worst. We're masters at constructing elaborate theories about others' motivations, while remaining blissfully blind to our own heart's darker corners. As Jesus said, we're experts at spotting specks in others' eyes while ignoring the logs in our own (Matthew 7:3). Think about it: While Bob was raging about James's supposed selfishness, who was really being selfish? While he was condemning James's apparent lack of consideration, whose heart was truly lacking in understanding? Proverbs 18:2 hits the nail on the head: "A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion." The Hebrew word for "opinion" here is 'leb' – meaning heart or inner person. It's not just about what we say; it's about the snap judgments our hearts make before our mouths even open. The remedy? Proverbs 18:15 lights the way: "An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge." Notice the active verbs here – acquires, seeks. Understanding doesn't just happen; we have to chase it down. We must silence that inner voice always ready with a verdict and instead ask, "What don't I know yet?" Decades later, Bob still carries this lesson like a scar. It's a reminder that every time we jump to conclusions, we're not just risking being wrong – we're risking being cruel. We're forgetting that behind every unexplained absence, every unanswered text, every perceived slight, there's a human story we might not understand. And isn't this the heart of God's grace? That He, who knows everything about us – every dark thought, every selfish moment – still chooses to lead with mercy? "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love" (Psalm 103:8). Perhaps it's time we followed His example. Jesus reminded us, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged" (Matthew 7:1-2). Bob learned this truth the hard way, in a middle school classroom, waiting for a friend who had a reason he could never have imagined. May we all learn it more gently, but learn it just the same. Dear God, I'm sitting here, thinking about how quick I am to play judge and jury in other people's stories. You know me - always ready with my verdict before I've heard half the evidence. (And let's be honest, I'm not exactly Supreme Court material.) That verse from Proverbs keeps echoing in my mind - about intelligent hearts acquiring knowledge. Mine's more like a social media feed of hot takes most days. I'm working on that, though. Or at least, I'm trying to let You work on that in me. Remember that time in Scripture when You told Samuel that You see straight through to the heart while we're all stuck judging the window dressing? Yeah, that hit home. Because here I am, still jumping to conclusions faster than a cat chasing a laser pointer. Still thinking I've got everyone figured out when I can barely figure out myself some days. Lord, I need Your kind of grace - that patience that runs deeper than the ocean. That love that keeps showing up even when You know exactly what I'm like (and let's face it, You've got quite the highlight reel of my not-so-finest moments). Teach me to be "slow to anger" like You, because right now I'm more "quick to tweet." Search my heart, God. Not just the Instagram version I show to everyone else, but the real deal - the messy, judgmental, sometimes-petty thing that it is. Clean it up. Remake it. Turn it into something that looks a bit more like Yours. And while You're at it, could You maybe upgrade my understanding software? I could use the premium version - You know, the one with extra wisdom and a built-in pause button for when I'm about to say something I shouldn't. Keep me on Your path. Even when I try to take shortcuts. Especially when I try to take shortcuts. And God? Thanks for not judging me the way I sometimes judge others. That's the kind of grace I want to learn to give. Lord, search me and know my heart. See if there be any wicked way in me. Save me from my foolish heart. Create in me a clean heart. Open my heart to You and Your Word. Turn my heart to You. Don’t let any sin rule me. Give me Your understanding. Teach me Your statutes. Lead me on the right path. So be it!