By Preparing for and recording these daily devotionals gives me a new appreciation for anyone who prepares a sermon. There’s a decent amount of work that has to be done before you even hit the record button. My first daily devotional recording posted and no one complained. I count that as a win in my book.
Today’s devotional is about judgement.
7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Matthew 7 verses 1 – 6 (NIV)
Jesus was speaking to the disciples then and is definitely speaking to us now. How often do you catch yourself judging others? A quick up and down glance of what someone is wearing and then you immediately decide who they are…without a single conversation. How is it that we can’t seem to learn this lesson well after all these years?
There is so much guilty pleasure in self-righteousness. In my younger days someone told me ‘When you point a finger at someone else, there are three pointing back at you.’ Rather than receiving the message, this led to many humorous attempts at pointing all fingers and thumbs at the guilty party. Yes I know. Completely missed the point!
But now I get it.
And I see how judging others is truly more harmful and hurtful to me and my relationship with God. We are all flawed beings. Every one of us needs grace and forgiveness.
So, just for today, let’s try to be accepting, let’s try to see the good in others. Let’s try not to judge. Let’s take the time to get to know someone and their story. And let’s show them the love of Christ.
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
Dear Lord
You are a most gracious and loving God.
You teach us to love others and to not judge, but we often are quick with our critiques
Forgive us as we stumble and help us to learn.
Help us to accept others as they are.
Amen
