Judgment and Grace: Embracing Humility in Relationships

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Humility in Judgment

In Matthew 7, Jesus warns against the destructive nature of judging others, likening it to a cancer that can damage relationships. He calls His followers to avoid harsh, hasty, and hypocritical judgments, urging them to address their own sins before helping others with theirs. This requires humility and self-reflection, recognizing our own faults before pointing out those of others. Jesus uses the metaphor of a log in one's eye to illustrate the absurdity of judging others while ignoring one's own faults. This teaching is not a prohibition against discernment or addressing sin, but a call to avoid a fault-finding spirit. [06:01]

"Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted." (Galatians 6:1, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you judged someone harshly. How can you approach them with humility and self-reflection instead?

Day 2: Understanding True Discernment

Jesus' command to "judge not" is often misunderstood. It is not a prohibition against discernment or addressing sin, but a call to avoid a fault-finding spirit and to approach others with grace and humility. Jesus Himself called out sin, but He did so with the intent of bringing people to repentance and salvation, not condemnation. This teaching emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and humility, urging us to prioritize addressing our own sins before helping others with theirs. [09:54]

"Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." (John 7:24, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a time when you judged someone based on appearances. How can you practice true discernment and approach them with grace and humility?

Day 3: The Power of Self-Examination

Regular self-examination is crucial in our spiritual journey. By acknowledging our blind spots and addressing our own sins, we can better help others in their struggles, fostering a community of grace and accountability. Jesus' teaching in Matthew 7:1-5 emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and humility, using the metaphor of a log in one's eye to illustrate the absurdity of judging others while ignoring one's own faults. This requires a balance of truth and grace, recognizing that not everyone will be receptive to the gospel. [21:38]

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to practice self-examination? How can you address this area with honesty and humility today?

Day 4: Sharing the Gospel with Wisdom

Sharing the gospel requires discernment and wisdom. Jesus teaches us to be wise in how we share the message of the kingdom, recognizing that not everyone will be receptive and that we should focus our efforts on those who are open to hearing the truth. This requires a balance of truth and grace, recognizing that not everyone will be receptive to the gospel. Jesus advises against casting pearls before swine, meaning we should be wise in how we share the message of the kingdom. [33:01]

"Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." (Colossians 4:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life is open to hearing the gospel? How can you share the message of the kingdom with them in a wise and gracious manner?

Day 5: Marveling at God's Grace

Being amazed by God's grace and mercy towards us is key to overcoming a judgmental spirit. By celebrating His grace, we can cultivate a spirit of compassion and understanding, treating others with the same love and mercy that we have received. Jesus calls us to love one another as He has loved us, characterized by humility, gentleness, and a recognition of our shared humanity as image-bearers of God. [41:48]

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:4-5, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced God's grace and mercy. How can you extend that same grace and compassion to someone in your life today?

Sermon Summary

In Matthew 7, Jesus addresses the destructive nature of judging others, a behavior that can be as damaging as cancer to relationships. This passage is part of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus calls His followers to avoid harsh, hasty, and hypocritical judgments. Instead, He urges us to prioritize addressing our own sins before helping others with theirs. The tendency to be critical and judgmental is deeply rooted in human nature, as illustrated by a story of a family critiquing a church service. Jesus warns against this toxic behavior, which can lead to broken marriages and divided churches.

Jesus' teaching in Matthew 7:1-5 emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and humility. He uses the metaphor of a log in one's eye to illustrate the absurdity of judging others while ignoring one's own faults. This teaching is not a prohibition against discernment or addressing sin, but a call to avoid a fault-finding spirit. Jesus Himself called out sin, but He did so with the intent of bringing people to repentance and salvation, not condemnation.

The passage also highlights the need for discernment in sharing the gospel. Jesus advises against casting pearls before swine, meaning we should be wise in how we share the message of the kingdom. This requires a balance of truth and grace, recognizing that not everyone will be receptive to the gospel.

Ultimately, Jesus calls us to love one another as He has loved us. This love is characterized by humility, gentleness, and a recognition of our shared humanity as image-bearers of God. By marveling at God's grace and mercy towards us, we can cultivate a spirit of compassion and understanding, rather than judgment and criticism.

Key Takeaways

1. Avoiding Hypocritical Judgment: Jesus calls us to avoid harsh and hypocritical judgments, urging us to address our own sins before helping others. This requires humility and self-reflection, recognizing our own faults before pointing out those of others. [06:01]
2. Understanding Jesus' Teaching on Judgment: Jesus' command to "judge not" is often misunderstood. It is not a prohibition against discernment or addressing sin, but a call to avoid a fault-finding spirit and to approach others with grace and humility. [09:54]
3. The Importance of Self-Examination: Regular self-examination is crucial in our spiritual journey. By acknowledging our blind spots and addressing our own sins, we can better help others in their struggles, fostering a community of grace and accountability. [21:38]
4. Balancing Truth and Grace: Sharing the gospel requires discernment and wisdom. Jesus teaches us to be wise in how we share the message of the kingdom, recognizing that not everyone will be receptive and that we should focus our efforts on those who are open to hearing the truth. [33:01]
5. Embracing God's Grace and Mercy: Being amazed by God's grace and mercy towards us is key to overcoming a judgmental spirit. By celebrating His grace, we can cultivate a spirit of compassion and understanding, treating others with the same love and mercy that we have received. [41:48]
** [41:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:53] - The Problem of Judging Others
[04:11] - Jesus' Call to Mercy and Peacemaking
[06:01] - The Log and the Speck
[07:41] - Misunderstanding "Judge Not"
[09:54] - Jesus' Teaching on Judgment
[10:57] - Avoiding a Critical Spirit
[12:54] - Assumptions and Hypocrisy
[13:45] - Heart Issues and Hypocrisy
[15:15] - The Gospel's Transformative Power
[16:26] - Understanding Censoriousness
[17:17] - The Role of Judgment
[18:39] - Paul's Teaching on Judgment
[20:51] - Indicators of Unrighteous Judgment
[21:38] - Self-Examination and Blind Spots
[23:07] - Balancing Strengths and Weaknesses
[24:35] - Living Out Jesus' Teaching
[26:31] - Addressing Sin with Humility
[28:59] - Correction and Accountability
[30:24] - The Role of Righteous Judges
[31:15] - Discernment in Sharing the Gospel
[32:04] - Wisdom of Appropriate Activity
[33:01] - Sharing the Gospel Wisely
[34:14] - Investing in Receptive Hearts
[36:16] - Treating Others with Gentleness
[37:52] - The Golden Rule
[38:32] - Regular Self-Examination
[39:38] - Examining Our Hearts
[40:41] - Helping Others with Humility
[41:48] - Marveling at God's Grace
[43:06] - C.S. Lewis on Human Value
[44:08] - The Eternal Significance of Our Actions
[45:13] - Closing Remarks

Sermon Clips

Here are the selected quotes with timestamps:

Christ calls his followers to avoid harsh, hasty, and hypocritical judgments upon others, and prioritize addressing our sin before helping others to address theirs. [00:06:31] ( | | )

Imagine, or just think about marriages, marriages who have gone through this type of judgment, and marriages that have split apart because of judgments that are made towards a spouse, a husband on a wife, or a wife with a husband. [00:04:11] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? [00:05:52] (9 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Jesus says, first, take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. [00:24:35] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

We need to be amazed and have that posture of except for the grace of God, there go I. I could be just as bad in just as bad circumstances, but God's grace and his mercy, marvel at his grace. [00:41:48] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

To remember that the dullest and the most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which if you say, say it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. [00:43:06] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

And our charity must be real and costly love with deep feeling for the sins in spite of which we love the sinner. [00:45:13] (11 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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