2010/Jun/04/Morning - Non-Judgement Day
Matthew 7:1 tells us, Judge not, that you be not judged. Is God calling you not to judge someone today?
My first reaction is to say yes, but I am not sure if my problem is judging per se. This morning's devotion covers the passage a little later on in Matthew about removing the plank in one's own eye before attempting to remove the speck in another's eye. That is a very relevant piece of advice to me. Still, I am not sure if mine is a problem of being judgemental against another, or just thinking that my way is the better option. Either way, it is symbolic attempted ocular surgery. I need to trust that God will help others, and accept that I am not responsible for the decisions that other people make. My role should be to support and assist others, not to tie them down and force my own designs on them. Aspiring to be a benevolent dictator is probably not a good idea after all. Even with my reasonably strong faith, though, it can be difficult putting trust in God that He is setting everything in the best way, especially when I would do things differently. Once again, I seem to be on the attendence list for patience lessons. My homework for today is not to worry, not to poke into anyone's eyes, not to judge, but to trust that God is watching over us. If I can truly reach that state of mind and heart, I know a beautiful sense of peace will fill me.
Ecclesiastes 7:16
Do not be overly righteous, nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself? Do not be overly wicked, nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time? It is good that you grasp this, and also not remove your hand from the other, for he who fears the Lord will escape them all
I appreciate how this passage is written as a direct address to the reader. It is advice from three thousand years ago sent directly to me. It was not written for the Church in Ephesus or Corinth, it is not a prophetic vision aimed at the King of Israel and Judah. The author of Ecclesiastes sat down at his desk and thought, Some day, years from now, someone will need to hear this. God wants me to write this out for some person, probably someone I will never meet. Here we are today, and I am hearing that exhortation to moderation, just when I need to hear it. I am glad that all those years ago, that man thougt to record his wisdom.
My first reaction is to say yes, but I am not sure if my problem is judging per se. This morning's devotion covers the passage a little later on in Matthew about removing the plank in one's own eye before attempting to remove the speck in another's eye. That is a very relevant piece of advice to me. Still, I am not sure if mine is a problem of being judgemental against another, or just thinking that my way is the better option. Either way, it is symbolic attempted ocular surgery. I need to trust that God will help others, and accept that I am not responsible for the decisions that other people make. My role should be to support and assist others, not to tie them down and force my own designs on them. Aspiring to be a benevolent dictator is probably not a good idea after all. Even with my reasonably strong faith, though, it can be difficult putting trust in God that He is setting everything in the best way, especially when I would do things differently. Once again, I seem to be on the attendence list for patience lessons. My homework for today is not to worry, not to poke into anyone's eyes, not to judge, but to trust that God is watching over us. If I can truly reach that state of mind and heart, I know a beautiful sense of peace will fill me.
Ecclesiastes 7:16
Do not be overly righteous, nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself? Do not be overly wicked, nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time? It is good that you grasp this, and also not remove your hand from the other, for he who fears the Lord will escape them all
I appreciate how this passage is written as a direct address to the reader. It is advice from three thousand years ago sent directly to me. It was not written for the Church in Ephesus or Corinth, it is not a prophetic vision aimed at the King of Israel and Judah. The author of Ecclesiastes sat down at his desk and thought, Some day, years from now, someone will need to hear this. God wants me to write this out for some person, probably someone I will never meet. Here we are today, and I am hearing that exhortation to moderation, just when I need to hear it. I am glad that all those years ago, that man thougt to record his wisdom.