Samuel the Lamanite had a word of caution for the Nephites in Zarahemla: Think about the context for the Lamanites’ decisions and the context for your own before rushing to judgment. The Lamanites, he pointed out, when they are converted to the gospel, “are firm and steadfast in the faith” (Helaman 15:8). Because of this deep conversion, God will bless their posterity even if they fall into unbelief. Why? Because He sees the big picture. Their current behavior may not be representative of their true character, which will only become clear as they react to influences which guide them back to Him.
In contrast, the Nephites, who had a proclivity for self-righteousness, didn’t realize how unreliable they had been in light of their privileges. “Had the mighty works been shown unto them which have been shown unto you,” Samuel said, “they never would again have dwindled in unbelief” (Helaman 15:15).
Of course we understand that God takes all of our circumstances under consideration as He makes judgments about how to bless and teach us. Of course His final evaluation will consider our entire life, not a single slice or snapshot. But we may lose sight of those realities when we see other people making mistakes or behaving with immaturity. God sees not only what we do, but also what can reasonably be expected of us given our life experiences and capabilities. He also sees what we can become with the right future experiences and associations.
Therefore, He may treat some people with a surprising amount of mercy. Samuel said of the Lamanites, “Even if they should dwindle in unbelief the Lord shall prolong their days,” and “they shall again be brought to the true knowledge, which is the knowledge of their Redeemer” (Helaman 15:11, 13). He understood that this dwindling had context and that they had the potential to be once again “firm and steadfast” in their faith.
Today, I will remember that God judges us with a perfect understanding of the context for our decisions. I will be cautious about passing judgment on other people, recognizing that I lack that context. I will be grateful that He sees us as we are and can lead us to experiences which will increase our understanding and maturity.
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