Today's scripture from Matthew 7:1-3 has always been one that got my attention! I don't know of any words in the Bible that are much clearer than, “Do not judge others, so that God will not judge you, for God will judge you in the same way you judge others, and he will apply to you the same rules you apply to others. Why, then, do you look at the speck in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the log in your own eye?"
In a book I am reading, it says that Jesus did judge others who were not doing His Will so that must mean that we are to do the same! I have a problem with this author's opinion unless...he is referring to a time when we see someone breaking the 10 Commandments or blatantly hurting another person.
The words in this passage are simple, clear, and powerful, but are also a challenge to me and many others. To me, it could mean having the courage to NOT forward (or even rebuke the sender) e-mails that are filled with half-truths or false statements about a politician or pastor or someone running for office! It could mean filling our minds with thoughts about our Lord every time we begin forming a judgment about others' actions or words that we don't agree. It could mean looking at the log in our own eye before looking at the speck in our brothers!
Sarah Young also reminds us that we should not judge ourselves by comparing our gifts and talents with those of others!
What else does it take in life to follow this simple command of Jesus? Please share your thoughts.
God uses the same words to speak to different needs at different times!! I so overlooked judgment in today's reading. I had to go back and look at it again!
ReplyDeleteThe great discovery for me was Sarah Young's linkage of "sheer concentration" to utter commitment to God...to get us through the rough places of life! I had wanted my faith alone to do the job...but this truth, to me, means I must concentrate on the task as well as concentrate on my commitment to God! I must work at discerning God's directions. ( I recently learned discern means "to separate.")
I must give sheer concernration to separating the parts of my present journey and move with trust...Does this make sense to you...readers help me think through this.
Thank you for your thoughts and "revelations!" That's what is so amazing about this devotional book. - It speaks so profoundly and yet differently to many who read it! I hope that others will share insights from "concentration" and prayer on the words from the devotional and scriptures.
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