Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” John 8:10-11 (ESV)
Do your actions communicate that you value perfect behaviour more than people? If you judge people easily, condemning them when they make mistakes, you actually demonstrate that perfect behaviour is more important to you than the relationship.
Some fall into the habit of judging and criticizing people quickly. They seem to fear that an attitude of acceptance condones bad behaviour and even encourages it. I disagree. Most people are well aware of the difference between good and bad, so putting their mistakes under a microscope does not really solve anything. We all make mistakes, and if we are judged harshly for them, we have two options: hide the mistakes or leave the relationship. With either option, we cut ourselves off from the very support we need to overcome our weaknesses.
When Jesus came face to face with a prostitute who was being condemned by religious authorities, He didn’t engage in a lengthy lecture about how immoral her behaviour was. He respected her as a person but at the same time told her to “go and sin no more” (John 8:11, NLT). His acceptance absolutely revolutionized her world. When we accept people the way they are, we create a safe zone for them to change.
We’re only human—we all make mistakes. Today, look for ways to show that you accept people as they are. In doing so, you can forgive and work out your differences to create close, rewarding relationships.