Category: Jesus Speaks

Judging others

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING               

                “Judge not, that you be not judged.  For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.  And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye” (Mathew 7: 1-3.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS   

                Of all the sins one can possibly commit, hypocrisy is often the most offensive. Jesus embraced repenting murderers, rapists, and prostitutes; yet he openly loathed unrepentant religious hypocrites.  Hypocrisy occurs when an individual judges or evaluates another person based on standards that they themselves are incapable of achieving.  Practicing hypocrisy is dangerous because God judges his followers based upon the very same principles they use to judge others.  If we outwardly chastise adulterers, yet secretly commit adultery, we are condemning ourselves.  Jesus warned his disciples that such unrighteous judgments served only to separate them from God.  Before we judge anyone, we must make absolutely certain that we have been victorious over the same sins that have caused many others to fail.

               Nearly 2400 years ago, a man named Haman made an attempt to execute every Jew living within the boundaries of the Persian Empire.  He hated the Hebrews and believed they were troublemakers who deserved to die.  Haman was a high ranking official in the court of Artexerxes the 2nd (King of Persia.)  He eventually convinced the King to exterminate the Jews; which would have included Haman’s mortal Hebrew enemy, Mordicai (another high ranking official who showed distain for Haman.)  Mordicai had graciously adopted his orphan cousin Esther, who grew in to one of the most beautiful women in all of Persia. The king became enamored with Esther and married her; not knowing that she was a Jew.  As the day approached for the extermination, Haman joyfully built a scaffold fifty feet high near his home, from which he planned to hang Mordicai.  However, just before the mass murder was carried out, Esther came forward and revealed to the king that she was in fact a Jew.  She begged him to end the genocidal plan. He compassionately agreed and her people were spared.  The king was also made aware of Haman’s treachery.  In a cruel twist of fate, the king ordered Haman to be hung from the very gallows he himself had constructed to kill Mordicai.  The judgment he had so eagerly reserved for another person, had been visited upon him and his entire household. 

                Some, like Haman build scaffolds with which to hang others.  Many are often hypocrites who rightly incur the wrath of God; they are condemned by the very judgments they use to condemn others.  As Christians, we must examine ourselves daily; and we must ask God to search our hearts and minds; if we find that the sins of others cause us to experience anger and resentment, then we must ask the question, “Am I guilty of any similar sins?”  If the answer is yes, then we need to change; we need to abandon hypocrisy and embrace a right relationship with God.

                “Lord Heavenly Father, we are unworthy servants; we are sinners who don’t deserve Your forgiveness; and yet we thank You that we have received it.  Search our hearts; if You find hypocrisy, please reveal it to us; correct us if we have been judging others unjustly.  Take away our sinful resentments, that we might be more effective at reaching the lost. Please continue filling our hearts with gratitude, sincerity, and humility.  We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name.  Amen.”  God bless all of you.

Attempt to be impartial

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

                Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him.  And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts.  For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination to God” (Luke 16: 14-15.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

                What the world considers valuable and what God considers valuable are often in direct opposition.  Most esteem beauty, wealth, fame, power, and intellect above Godliness, compassion, love, humility, and genuine mercy.  The Pharisees (religious leaders) hearts were wicked; they demonstrated extreme partiality toward the powerful, wealthy, affluent, and well-educated.  Jesus however, fellowshipped with repentant prostitutes and tax collectors; he reached out to the lame, and befriended many outcasts.  He refrained from showing any form of ungodly partiality; rather, he continually honored and esteemed only those things God deemed worthy.

                In the Old Testament, we read of a time when it became necessary to anoint a new king to rule over the nation of Israel.  The Lord commanded the prophet Samuel to travel to Bethlehem, where he was instructed to choose a king from among the Sons of Jesse.  Upon arriving, Samuel laid eyes upon Eliab (one of the eldest sons); Eliab was mature, healthy, and strong.  The prophet, being mislead by worldly values, proclaimed, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him!”  God replied saying, “Do not look at his appearance or his physical stature, because I have refused him, for the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  After God had rejected seven of Jesse’s eldest sons, it appeared there were none left.  Samuel asked if all his Sons were present; Jesse replied, “Well there remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.”  When David, the youngest and weakest of Jesse’s son’s appeared, God said, “Arise and anoint him, for this is the one.”  In time it became clear why God chose David; he was wise and loved God with his whole heart; his faith remained unshakable and his courage unfading.]

                In all cultures it’s common to show partiality toward those who are wealthy, good looking, and affluent; yet to highly esteem such attributes is to oppose God.  The apostle James wrote, “For if there should come in to your assembly a man with Gold rings [and also] a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or “Sit at my footstool,” have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?”  Therefore, every true believer must make an effort to avoid valuing worldly things.  With God’s help, we can be impartial; we can see through His eyes; we can become lovers of truth; men and women who adore kindness, cherish compassion, and embrace mercy.

                “Lord Heavenly Father, guide us and lead us in to the paths of righteousness.  Give us clean hearts, that we might avoid partiality, and love what is truly good.  May we turn away from worldly pursuits, and walk in Your ways; may we love what You love; may we value what You value; and may we live as You have lived.  We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.”  God bless all of you.

The simple are wise

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

                At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.  Even so, Father, because it seemed good in Your sight.  All things have been delivered to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father.  Nor does anyone know the Father except the son, and the one to whom the son wills to reveal him” (Mathew 11: 25-27.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

                In the Jewish culture, youth was often associated with weakness and stupidity.  So much so, that when a group of Jewish men gathered together, they often spoke in order of age; the oldest spoke first and the youngest spoke last.  They believed that with age came wisdom.  Jesus however, corrected this commonly held belief.  Wisdom concerning the messiah and God’s plan of salvation couldn’t be attained through many years of careful study; instead, the truth could only be received as a gift from God.  Those who thought themselves intelligent were blinded by pride and self-reliance; the simple and ignorant however, clearly saw the value of God’s grace and the blessings of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.

                Sigmund Freud pioneered what we might consider the modern field of psychology.  In fact, today he’s remembered as one of the most intelligent men who has ever lived.  And yet many are unaware that at a certain point in his career he actively promoted the frequent consumption of cocaine; considering it to be a cure-all.  He even encouraged his close acquaintances and compatriots to indulge in its use.  When one of his dear friends became horribly addicted to the drug, he saw the dangers of cocaine and anxiously recanted his previous endorsements; he carried the guilt of his friend’s continued drug dependence for the rest of his life. In short, some of the most well educated and intelligent people are often the most horribly deceived. Unless an individual knows the creator, they can never know genuine wisdom.

                The truth is a gift from The Lord; it isn’t something that can be earned.  Intelligence, although beneficial and extremely useful, can sometimes blind those who trust in it more than God. Intellect frequently stands in opposition to simple faith and practical wisdom.  God yearns for His children to trust Him completely.  Those who are simple, unlearned, and unwise, are often the first to see the true value of God’s mercy and grace.  Won’t you receive the gospel today as a little child?  Won’t you believe with your whole heart?  Won’t you allow God to take control of your life?  If you place your faith in Jesus Christ you will come to know the truth; and you’ll be smarter than the most well educated man; and wiser than the greatest king. 

                “Lord Heavenly Father, may we be as little children.  May we remain simple, and may we trust in, and completely rely upon You.  We pray for those who are intelligent and wise in their own minds; those who have faith only in the achievements of men.  Reveal the truth to them, that they may come to humbly receive Your mercy and grace.  We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name.  Amen.”  God bless all of you.