X Factor Judges

Yeah, I can hear you asking 'what is Sarah going on about this time?' It's just something I was musing about recently and thought to share with you.

I've been an avid fan of the musical talent show 'The X Factor' until recently when  I lost interest in certain aspects of the show. One main feature of the show is that there are three or four judges; each judge mentoring a group of contestants, whom they groom, train and encourage to win.  After each week's performance, each  contestant is critiqued by all the judges. One thing I noticed in the years I've watched the show is that some contestants never sing in tune, on key, to time or in sync with the theme of the week. When the performance of such artists is being analysed by the other judges, they do not mince words and sometimes dish out such biting criticism that even the audience at home cringe. 

However, when it is the turn of their mentor to comment, no matter how obviously disastrous the performance was, they would have something good to say about it. The mentor may then later, behind the scenes, challenge their mentee and work with them to improve on their areas of weakness and to deliver a better performance next time. But as far as condemning them in public goes, they won't go harsh on them. 

When I consider all this, it reminds me of how God is both our judge as well as our mentor. The devil also tries to judge us, after all, he is called 'the accuser of the brethren', or in today's English, 'the one who never has anything good to say about Christians, but is quick to point the condemning finger at them and tell them they are wrong at every given opportunity'.

But God is a fair judge and because we are now in Christ Jesus, he won't condemn us.
'THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit' Romans 8:1 AMP

So, when sometimes our Christianity seems out of tune, off key, out of time and out of sync with the theme of our salvation (which by the way is to love God and to love our neighbours), He calls us aside in love, unlike the devil who publicly tries to put us down.

With his Holy Spirit, he convicts us of sin, telling us where we've gone wrong and how we can get back on track. Constantly reminding us that his love and mercy are never ending. 

Through his word, he encourages us, with such promises as 'If you serve me, I'll bless your food and drink and see to it that you don't fall ill'  Exodus 23:25 (paraphrased) and 'Everything you'll ever need, I am more than able to make available to you' Philippians 4:19 (paraphrased) and 'The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure' 1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT

Through other believers, he strengths us, as he makes them share with us their testimonies of victory, healing and deliverance.    

He helps us by his Holy Spirit to work on our next 'performance' (as Shakespeare said, 'all the world's a stage'), so that when we are done, the accuser will have nothing to say against us and we will come out victorious and more than conquerors!
God is a fair Judge and an excellent Mentor who wants to make us the best we can ever be.
Shalom