**Read Matthew 7:1-6 and Romans 5:1-5
I Judging Others
- In Matthew 7:1-6, Jesus preached about us not having the right to judge our brothers and sisters especially if we are doing the same thing and sometimes worse. People tend to see minor flaws of others to cover up their own mistakes. At the same time, they try to help people to overcome those flaws. Jesus told us to look at the flaws that we have because we can't help anyone without helping ourselves first. A person who just got divorced can not give marriage counseling to a couple having problems. It just does not work! These people are hypocrites.
Remember the story in John 8:1-12 about the adulteress who was brought to Jesus by the pharisees and the scribes. They brought Jesus the woman to see what he will say because the laws of Moses calls for her stoning. Jesus said to them “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” After hearing this, no accuser threw a stone and left the adulteress. This is a great story of judgment. Remember that God is the only One who can judge us and we are all sinners.
- We can also see these from people with double standards who corrects your mistakes all the time but when the exact thing happened to them, it suddenly is ok. They can be your supervisors or co-workers who always get on you when you are late, but always take an extra 20-30 mins for lunch. They can be your parents, brother or sisters, who tells you not to do the exact thing that you see them doing. If you want to be a good role model to your little brother/sisters or children, do not do something that you don't want them to copy, especially in front of them. Telling them not to do what you're doing usually does not work especially if they look up to you and considered you their hero. If you're doing it, why can't they?
- People try to minimize their faults and try to exaggerate other's faults. We need to examine our own lives instead of criticizing others, for nobody is perfect and everyone has sinned. The traits that usually bothers us are the same traits that we dislike or have in ourselves. If you are ready to criticize others, check to see if you deserve the same criticism. Judge yourself first, then instead of finding fault on others, forgive and help them.
- In verse 6, Jesus mentioned not giving the holy to the dogs and casting pearls to pigs. Dogs and pigs were both unclean at those times and these are referred to people who kept rejecting God and his message. The word "Holy" is his gospel and pearls. Jesus is just preaching not to force the gospel on people who radically reject it outright. We all have the responsibility to share the gospel to everyone but after delivering the good news, it is the individuals choice if he will accept or reject the gospel. We can keep planting the seeds but if he/she outright rejects it, Jesus said that there's no more reason to share it with them again.
II. Bearing Trials with Peace and Joy
- In Romans 5:1-5, Paul talks about the peace we get from trusting and believing in God through our faith in Jesus Christ. It is living without the fear of judgment because of all the sins that we have committed. Each verse has its own message: verse 1 resulted in peace with God, verse 2: access to God and His grace; verse 3: glory in tribulation; verse 4: hope through our salvation; and finally, verse 5: love of God.
III. Proverbs for Today/3:11-12 (NKJV)
11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor detest His correction;
12 For whom the LORD loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights.
IV. Old Testament Readings:
Genesis 28-29 and Psalms 11:1-7
Prayer: Father God, we pray to you today as members of your family. We lift to you our lives that you may use us in sharing the gospel to everyone. Heavenly Father, we ask you to show us the way and clean our hearts that we shall look in our own's faults and flaws. Father, help us not to judge people for we know that you are the only judge and help us to forgive those who have sinned against us for we know that if we forgive you too will forgive our sins. Father God, we thank you for the peace that you have given us, the grace that you have showered us, the hope that you have in store for us, and the everlasting love that you have given us. We pray all these, in Jesus' Name. Amen.
