Becoming Right with God Instead of the World

Today’s Reading:
• Matthew 23:13 - 39
• Psalm 28:1 - 9

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Matthew 23:13 - 39
Jesus has some strong words for the Pharisees as he calls them out for all kinds of behaviors.  The underlying message of it all was hypocrisy.  Practice what you preach and what is preached to you.  And remember -- appearances might fool some people, but appearances will not fool God.  Jesus says to clean the inside first and then the outside will be bright and shiny (23:26).

I'd say the majority of us put on our best face for church.  We might choose not to disclose our problems.  We might seem as if we are always cheery and a happy family.  I don't think there's anything wrong with that.  But don't be a hypocrite.  Practice what you preach. 

Also, don't be judgmental just because you don't struggle with the same affliction someone else does.  You might be right with the Lord in one aspect of your life, but surely there's something else that you could use help with. We all have our problems, we all have areas in our lives that need work and we are all sinners. 

We should have compassion and understanding with each other.  That's not the same thing as agreeing with something they are doing, but no one said we have to agree with someone to show compassion. 

Let's say someone succumbs to a drug overdose -- does that mean that their entire life was worthless?  That there should be no sympathetic thoughts when something like that happens?  That family and friends still aren't hurt by the situation and needing to be comforted?  In the end their soul is not ours to judge.  But we are told to LOVE one another.  We can control how choose to react to these situations.

Psalm 28:1 - 9
This Psalm simply and handsomely asserts God's protection for His people.  It is a psalm of complete faith that the Lord will judge those who are wicked differently than He judges his own people and that the Lord will strengthen and rescue His people.

Do Unto Others as You Would Have Them Do Unto You

Today’s Reading:

• Matthew 6:25-7:14
  
• Psalm 8:1-9

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Matthew 6:25-7:14
This passage began with a warning not to worry about having food, money and clothes, for the Lord will provide. I have mixed feelings about this. I feel that the Lord is providing for me already – I have a good job, and this job allows me to pay my bills, buy a house, save for college and retirement. I’m thinking of the future, but using the resources God gave me to fund it.

I know people, on the other hand, who will spend every dime he or she has, often before paying the bills. Then those people will cry that “God will provide.” But isn’t He already providing them with the means to live? If I squandered all the resources I’m given to provide for myself and my family, I wouldn’t expect God to bail me out later.  Now, if I had nothing, if something happened and I became broke, I would trust God to provide. But God is already providing me, isn’t he?

The second part of the reading contains the all-important verse 7:12:

 “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” 

 Isn’t that a fabulous verse, I mean really? How can you expect forgiveness from your sins if you don’t forgive others for theirs? And these passages say exactly that!

 “The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged (7:2).

 Now I’m awfully critical of people, and I know I need work there to avoid “judging” people. But I don’t judge people for their sins. Who am I to say what they did is right or wrong? Who are they to say the same of me? It is God’s job to judge our sins. And I do try -- truly -- to forgive those who wrong me. I know it does no good to hold a grudge. Sometimes it takes a while for me to let go, and it surely isn’t easy, but I do try my best.

My problem is I sometimes think back, and thinking about it causes angry emotions to arise. Even though I’ve long gotten over it, quit “punishing” the offending party for whatever it was, it can still cause me to be privately upset. I don’t know what to do about it. Am I truly forgiving the person then? How can I just make those emotions disappear? Do I just refuse to think about it, would that be good enough? Or must I feel peace in my heart when I think on the situation?  

Psalm 8:1-9
This psalm brings up a strong point: that we humans are but “mere mortals” (8:4), yet the Lord made us in his own image, and put us in charge of everything he created. Isn’t that an awesome, spectacular privilege?  I only hope that someday I can be worthy of the honor bestowed upon me as a human who has been put on this earth by God.