Jesus is Essential
Matthew 7:3–5: And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Sometimes we are so sure of ourselves that we fail to examine our hearts honestly and thoroughly. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in self-examination that we become unbalanced. But we should not look only at ourselves, or we will become discouraged and defeated. We should look by faith to Jesus Christ and let Him forgive and restore us.
Satan is the accuser, and he enjoys it when we accuse and condemn ourselves!After we have judged ourselves honestly before God, and have removed those things that blind us, then we can help others and properly judge their works. But if we know there are sins in our lives, and we try to help others, we are hypocrites. In fact, it is possible for ministry to be a device to cover up sin! The Pharisees were guilty of this, and Jesus denounced them for it. 1
Walking with Jesus
James 1:22-25 helps us to better understand how to see more clearly:
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him
who is the head—Christ. Ephesians 4:15
Let the Word of God, and Spirit of God, grow you up as a servant of God.
Praying
Dear Lord, please forgive my judgmental attitude. I need more of Your grace.
1. Hughes, R. K. (2001). The sermon on the mount: the message of the kingdom. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
