Daily Devotion, February 9, 2020

Devotion:

Read Matthew 7:1-5.

  It is so easy to look at some bad thing someone else has done and say “I would never do that!” When we see how other people deal with family relationships or act in certain situations, it is so tempting to think “I could never be like that!” However, as some like to say “Never say ‘Never’!” If you had been raised the way they were, if you had lived through the things they have dealt with, if you were put in the same circumstances they were in, maybe you would do that or be like that. This is not to say that we should condone wrong behavior or bad attitudes. It is to say that we should not judge others. That role belongs only to God.

 

  Earlier in the “Sermon On The Mount” Jesus teaches a model prayer for his disciples to pray. Both in the prayer and in follow-up teaching right after it, he says that we will receive forgiveness from God in the same proportion that we are willing to grant it to people who sin against us. Just nineteen verses later, he gives the same teaching, this time related to judging others: “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

  There are times when the Holy Spirit may guide you to confront someone else about some sin in their life. Just make sure you are doing it on behalf of God and that you do it with a Spirit of humility and love. Following on the example Jesus uses here, make sure you have visited your heavenly eye doctor before taking on the role of eye doctor yourself. Then when you go to that person, you go not as a judge, but as a healer.

Personal Worship Option:

Way back in 1895, Clara Scott penned the words to one of my favorite hymns. They are most fitting here. (I will adjust her pronouns to what I believe she would use if she were writing today.)

Open my eyes, that I may see glimpses of truth you have for me;

place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free.

Open my mouth, and let me bear gladly the warm truth everywhere;

open my heart and let me prepare love with your children thus to share.

Silently now I wait for you, ready, my God your will to see.

Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!