Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Virtuous Life – Day 230 – Matthew 7-1-5 – Do Not Judge Or You Will Be Judged – Growing As Disciples
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “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? 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? 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 7:1-5 (NIV)
In Return
Have you heard the expression, “What goes around comes around?” Or how about, “You get what you give?” Or even, “If you live by the sword, you will die by the sword?” Yes, I have heard all those expressions. Do they sound a little like, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged?” Or “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you?” Or how about, “Do to others what you would have them do to you?” Yes, they sound quite similar. Do you have any doubt about the truth in each of these expressions? No, I have no doubts. That’s good. So, how do you want to be treated? How will you treat others? Aren’t those two very good questions to help guide your life? Or I could ask you these questions? How have I treated you? How will you treat others? What example have I set before you to follow? Will you think and speak, and act like me? I want to think and speak and act like you. I want to live like you lived. I want to follow your example. How so? I want to give like you gave. I want to serve like you served. I want to love like you loved. My primary motive and most fundamental desire is that I want to be able to know and do your will. I want to live a life that is pleasing to you. I want what you want. You want me to become like you. You want your life lived out, in and through me. You want others to be drawn to you because they see your life shining through my life. Yes, I do. So, if I don’t treat others just as you have treated me, I will be living a life that is not pleasing to you. Of secondary importance, but still a worthy consideration, is that I will suffer greatly if I don’t follow your example. Give some negative examples. If I treat others harshly, I can expect harshness to come back to me. If I gossip against others, I can expect others to gossip against me. If I am angry and short tempered toward others, I can expect to receive those same attitudes to return to me. Give some positive examples. As I give, so I will receive. If I give out kindness and mercy and love, it will come back to me. If I am gracious and forgiving, that is what I will receive. Are there any other considerations? I am not qualified to judge others. Why is that? I am flawed. I have my own issues. How so? I make mistakes. I take missteps. I sin. I act inappropriately. I think and speak and act in ways that are not pleasing to you. And you would like to be forgiven? You would like to be treated with kindness and mercy and love? You would like to receive grace and forgiveness? Yes, and that is exactly what you have, are now, and will always give to me. So, will you do the same for others? Will you lavishly love others with my love? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.
Lord, why do I tend to be judgmental of others? Why is it that I can easily see flaws in others but not in myself? Help me to extend to others the same grace that you have lavishly extended to me. Help me to love others just as you have loved me. Use me Lord. Amen
Key Question… Why can you be sure that you will receive back what you have given out to others?
Living It Out… Make it your habit to lavishly extend grace rather than judgment to others.
Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to lavishly extend grace to others.
Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you have received back what you have given to others.
Prayer To Bless Others… May you not judge others, or you will be judged.
For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:
The Virtuous Life – Day 230 – Matthew 7-1-5 – Do Not Judge Or You Will Be Judged – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide
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