Day 17 // Seeing Clearly

“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 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? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 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. 6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.” Matthew 7:1-6

One of the most misused verses in all of Scripture may be “Judge not, that you be not judged.” We use this against anyone that seeks to hold us accountable for our sin or tries to lovingly point out the things we are doing that don’t line up with God’s best for our lives. But why would we try to sit in the seat of judgement over others when we are not Jesus – who had no sin?

How we judge others could be turned around to judge us. This passage does not say to not speak biblical truth to someone or refrain from pointing out sin. It does say that before we examine anyone else’s life, we must examine our own and address our own sin. Once we have done that, then we are able to see more clearly and encourage others to examine their lives as well. The Bible does give us a standard for righteous living. Let us examine our own lives regularly and not reject those who care enough for us to want righteousness and godliness in our lives.

Pray:

> That God would help you regularly examine your life and give you the eyes to see where you have strayed from His will and ways (Psalm 139:23-24).

> That God would help you grow in your love for those around you who may not know Jesus, and that you would be wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove with them as you share the love of Jesus.

> That God would give you the kind of relationships to speak the truth in love over, but also to receive the truth in love spoken to you.