1 Kings 19:11-13 English Standard Version

11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Let’s start with God’s opening command: “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord” (v. 11).

Elijah might have thought, “You told me to come here—I’m already here. So what do You mean, ‘What are you doing here?’”

Yet the gospel never calls us to hide our face from God! When the Lord asks, “What are you doing here?” (v. 13), it’s often an invitation to open our eyes, examine our hearts, and see where our actions (or inactions) stand in contrast to His expectations.

Sometimes we’re better off admitting, “Lord, I don’t know what I’m doing,” and simply listen.

In this moment, God graciously invites us into something wondrous—the quiet, intimate presence of His still small voice.

Don’t hide your face from Him. Step forward in humility and awe. Listen.

Matthew 7:1-2 English Standard Version

Judging Others

1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.”

If I say this to another person, I have judged them as needing judgment.

Proverbs 30:10 Do not slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.

This applies to everyone, no matter who their master is, good or evil.

We may however quote a passage from the bible and let it stand alone. The Word of God can speak for itself.

I will confess this to you all. I know I am judgmental. What kind of judgment is acceptable to God?

John 8:16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me.

1 Peter 1:17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,

The Word speaks for itself. Judge His Word to be true.