Today’s reading for me was Matthew 7. I’ve read this before but today so many things jumped out at me. Read it if you get a chance.
The first verse slammed me. It’s about not judging others. I think that I’m not judgmental often, but if I stop to think about it, I am. I need to get good at guarding my mind and monitoring my thoughts. It’s so easy to let your thoughts wonder into judgment. I don’t want to be judged that way though. Maybe the lady at the bank who was ugly to me just got some bad news or maybe someone is wearing dirty clothes because that’s all they have. They are not perfect but neither is anyone else who walks the earth including myself.
Verse 15 and on talks about how we are supposed to be known as christians by our fruit. Have you ever seen a fruit tree that will not grow fruit? I have 2 trees in my yard. I have no idea what kind they are. Several people have said they look like fruit trees. I wouldn’t know since I don’t have a green thumb. One day if one pops out an orange I’ll know, but for now it’s an unknown tree to me. Are you an unknown or a known tree? We don’t have to go around hitting people with a Bible for them to know we are christians. They should know us by our attitude, actions, convictions and how we deal with issues. We are supposed to be a peculiar people according to the Bible. You don’t have to have the fish on your car, the biggest cross on your neck or a Bible on your dash for people to know. In fact if you display those things but don’t show fruit, you’ve become a hypocrit. Nobody wants to hear what that person has to say.
There is a lot of great things in this chapter, Matthew 7. Take the time to read if you can.
Kelly Medders said,
July 12, 2010 @ 4:30 pm
Wow Marcia that is a great analogy. What got my attention this morning was how Jesus warned us not to “give what is holy to the dogs, nor cast your pearls before swine .. that the may not turn and rend you.” Those are tough words, but what I got out of it was that I need to better descern the relationships that I have, as well as the place people have given me in their lives. If I do not have a place to speak into a person’s life I may be intruding and if they are a carnal person any insight or legitimate spiritual thing that could help may actually be antagonistic to them. It just reminded me that people really need a relationship with you before they give place to speak into their lives. Maybe before I speak, I should stop and ask myself, “What place do I have to speak into this person’s life?”