Matthew 7:1-5
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
We took Timothy and Zola to the park to play after church and lunch today. While we were there, both children had “boomerang” experiences. Timothy was pushing a teeter-totter up and down, and it caught him on the upswing and hit his ear, knocking him to the ground. Zola was pushing a tire swing, and as the tire returned, it smacked her in the forehead, and she fell over, too. Both children were okay, but they both got the point that when you push, sometimes things push back!
We have all been hypocrites in one way or another. We criticize when we should keep our mouths shut. We readily see others’ faults…but turn a blind eye to our own. And sometimes, this comes back to knock us off our feet!
Here’s the good news…Jesus loves us…warts and all. And He loves that person you have criticized, too. We should be mindful of this as we formulate our thoughts and opinions…and grateful that God is so merciful toward us!
If we want to be like Jesus, we have to learn to be more inclusive…more tolerant…more accepting and less critical. If we want others to treat us in this manner, we have to first demonstrate these traits to them. No one will ever want to hear what we have to say about Jesus until we demonstrate His love and non-judgmental stance…and who could blame them?!
This scripture passage says it all pretty well. Just as Timothy and Zola must learn that pushing on these things will cause a direct – and uncomfortable – return “push”…we must learn that our critical and intolerant spirit has consequences, as well. The last thing we should want is to dishonor our relationship with Jesus – or to misrepresent His love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion for all who trust in Him. Yet this is what we do any time we are critical and overbearing toward someone else.
But we can change this…and we can start today. Will you join me? Will you examine your heart and see where you could operate with a more loving, tolerant spirit? It’s time to kick nitpicking and fault-finding to the curb and operate in the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. What do you say…are you with me?
©2015 Debbie Robus
No comments:
Post a Comment