MATTHEW 7:1-5
I have been quick to pass judgement on everyone I see gazing at a phone while strolling along the street. How could they have been so blind to the cars that were going to crash into them? Are they not concerned about their own security? However, I was so focused on a text message one day that I failed to notice a car to my left as I was crossing the entrance to an alleyway. Fortunately, the vehicle noticed me and stopped quickly. But I was embarrassed. My self-righteous finger-pointing really backfired. I had passed judgement on others before doing the same to myself.
Jesus addressed this type of thinking in the Sermon on the Mount: “First cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:5). This is exactly what my hypocrisy is. I had a major blind spot, or “plank,” that allowed me to use my own poor judgement to criticise other people.
We are all imperfect. But occasionally, in our rush to pass judgement on others, we forget that. God’s grace is necessary for every one of us.
🙏 Heavenly Father, please help your servants to be quicker to console or encourage and slower to judge others.
📸: kokouu
