GPS Guide – August 19, 2019

JUDGING OTHERS

Monday

Read: Matthew 7:1-6

7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ² For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.³ “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. ⁶ “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. (NIV Matthew 7:1-6)

Study: When Jesus addresses the crowd in his sermon on the mount here in Matthew, he talks about many things, but this short section on Judging is striking. Too often we judge other’s actions while turning a blind eye to our own shortcomings. None of us are perfect and we all fall short in many ways. Today, focus on those areas where you might fall short. Is there a “log in your eye” that you need to address? Before you can address someone else’s issues, you should reflect on your own. Doing this in uncomfortable and can make you feel uneasy but, in doing this, you will find that you able speak with more authority in Christ.

Pray: Holy God, give me the courage to address the shortcoming that I have. I thank you for your forgiveness. Let me show that same forgiveness to others.