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Sunday, March 22, 2009
Looking in the Mirror First
"Why do you notice the small piece of dust that is in your
brother's eye, but you don't notice the big piece of wood
that is in your own eye? Why do you say to your brother, 'Let
me take that little piece of dust out of your eye'? Look at
yourself first! You still have that big piece of wood in your
own eye." You are a hypocrite. First, take the wood out of
your own eye. Then you will see clearly to take the dust out
of your brother's eye.
-- Matthew 7:3-5 (ERV)
KEY THOUGHT:
Jesus reminds us that we often pass judgment on others to keep from
examining ourselves. This is wrong. In fact, it is obnoxiously and
hypocritically wrong in God's eyes. Before we start removing someone
else's sawdust, we had better get our own blinding 2x4 plank out of our
way. It's ridiculous for us to spend so much time finding all the
little things that are wrong with others while we ignore our own huge
problems. Let's address our own problems, weaknesses, sins, and
inconsistencies before we start trying to "fix" anybody else!
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Almighty and compassionate Father, you have been so patient and kind
with me. You provided Jesus as the sacrifice that purifies me from my
sin. You sent your Spirit to help complete your work of maturing me.
Please bless me as I try to be honest with my own failures, sins, and
shortcomings. I don't want to let Satan use discouragement from my
failures to embarrass or alienate me from you or your people. But
Father, neither do I want to pretend they are not there and leave them
un-addressed by your grace and at odds with your righteousness. Please
work in me your holy will and produce in me your holy character and not
find the faults of others to keep from dealing with my own. In the holy
name of your Messiah and my Savior, Jesus, I pray. Amen.
>> NEW: Phil's What Jesus Did devotional is now
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>> The WJD! web page has related scriptures and the
>> full text of today's key passage. Read it at:
http://www.heartlight.org/wjd/matthew/0322-wjd.html
>> For further study of today's passage, use our
>> online Bible study site: SearchGodsWord.org!
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Matthew+7:3-5&sr=1&t=erv
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=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
THE END OF REASON: A RESPONSE TO THE NEW ATHEISTS, by Ravi Zacharias
Zacharias cuts to the core of the atheist problem and presents a case
for truth resolving itself in a presentation of God in the person of
Jesus Christ as the intelligence behind the universe, and the end (the
culmination, not the cessation) of reason.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?260
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