See Clearly

Daily Reading: Matthew 7

Scripture Focus: You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. (Matthew 7.5)

Devotional Thought: Matthew 7 contains so much wisdom: advice on judging others, the desire of the Father to give good gifts to his children, the “golden rule,” knowing a tree by its fruit, building your house on the Rock, and the revelation from Jesus that not all who claim to know the Lord truly do (perhaps the most sobering scripture in the New Testament). This chapter is so full of wisdom from Jesus’ teachings that it is hard to focus in on one particular section.

This is a continuation of Jesus’ teachings to the crowd, the infamous Sermon on the Mount. Jesus knew he was addressing a diverse group of his followers – Jew and Gentile, religious superiors and self-proclaimed sinners. The command on judging others applies to all of his followers: “Judge not, that you not be judged… Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (v1,3). As human beings, I believe we are guilty of constantly judging others, good and bad. We see something, we analyze it, and we judge its goodness or its badness.

Jesus is not calling for blindness to sin among believers. To the contrary, what he is saying is that we should turn the eye of judgment onto ourselves first and foremost. We tend to give ourselves a lot more grace and patience than we do anyone else! Only after we have asked the Lord to inspect our own hearts for sin, and repented of that sin, can we “see clearly” to gently and lovingly help our fellow believers with the sin in their own lives.

Jenny

Prayer: Lord, give us a right heart – a heart full of grace and compassion and understanding towards others. Help us to repent of the sin in our own hearts first when we see the sin of others. Then give us the love and courage to help others.

Psalm of the Day: 8 You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. 9 You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land. 10 The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches. 11 It sent out its branches to the sea and its shoots to the River. 12 Why then have you broken down its walls, so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit? 13 The boar from the forest ravages it, and all that move in the field feed on it. 14 Turn again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine, 15 the stock that your right hand planted, and for the son whom you made strong for yourself. 16 They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of your face! 17 But let your hand be on the man of your right hand, the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself! 18 Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon your name! 19 Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved! (Psalms 80:8-19)