Week 3 | Day 2 | Planks Begone!

Command:

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” Matthew 7:1 (NIV)

Read:

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

Reflect:

In this era of social media and general divisiveness it is easy to fall into the habit of judging others. We know that God is the only righteous judge. We are called not to judge those outside of the church and to act wisely in dealing with matters of judgment inside the church. When judging inside of the church, the goal is redemption and restoration. Even knowing this, Christians can still fall into being judgmental.

I was reminded of this in myself recently. A friend I admire began to vent and unfairly judge some others. She criticized them as being selfish because they were not serving where she thought they should. I believed this was unjust judgment, and then I fell into the trap of judging her. A graceful rebuke over her behavior and a defense of the accused would have been helpful. I was not being helpful. I was not attempting to build her up. I had a plank in my own eye that needed removal. Thankfully, God convicted me and helped me to repent.  

The gifts of God’s word and Spirit provide the knowledge and the power to transform our judgmental temperaments into graceful hearts.  

React:

Reflect on Eph 4:29-32 and ask God to transform your heart and responses towards others.

Pray:

Father, you are the only just Judge. Prompt me to be helpful, and to build others up. Help me to flee from unjust judgment and to remove my planks.