October 26 Our Actions, Attitudes To Honor HIM! Matthew 7:3-5
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “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.” (Matthew 7:3-5)
It has always fascinated me that I am, and have been guilty of judging my fellowman, using a standard that I have difficulty obtaining! No greater example of the warning of Matthew 7:3 than when church folk assemble to discuss “Business” of the church! “I’m right!” “No, I’m right!” “You’re the problem!” “Look in the mirror for the problem!” Have you ever heard something similar, or have you ever spoken something like this? Our Savior came to pay the price for our sins and to atone for our transgressions, and He did not intend for His people to squabble over trivial, temporal, insignificant issues! Satan is primed and ready to take advantage of our shortcoming, or might I say, “The Log in our eyes!” Please Stop and Evaluate your priorities and motivations! Your relationship with Christ is exposed when you engage in petty arguments over things that have ZERO eternal value! Our growing relationship with Jesus, and our ever-expanding attitude of His Love and Service, should be evident in our words, actions and attitudes! If the words that you speak are not bring folks closer to Jesus, then consider not saying them at all! After all, we tend to be quick to call out the “Speck” in our neighbor’s eye while ignoring the “Great Big Log” in our own eye! Just recently, I was called out for not engaging a fellow believer and correcting them for their “wrong thinking!” When I inquired of the accuser about their motivation, this is what I received: “Well, he is wrong and I am right and it is your job to correct and guide in the right direction!” Okay then… So, the commandment, found in Mark 12:30-31, doesn’t apply to you because you are right? STOP – DROP – PRAY! Read this verse out loud … “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Disagreements will happen, opinions will differ, but we are to represent Jesus in all that we do, and not our own opinions and prejudices, but Christlikeness! Born Again Believers ought to get along! The world (Satan) is watching, waiting and ready to point out the Hypocrisy of Professing Believers! When we engage in the actions described in Matthew 7:3-5, Satan is pleased and honored and God is not! Who do you choose to serve? Your Opinions, Bias, Prejudices and “I’m Right and You are Wrong” mentality or “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Just Get Along! Stay Strong – Stay focused … THE BEST IS YET TO BE!