5: Hypocrisy is the key here. Good judgement is never wrong, but hypocritical judgement is never right. What is often missed here is that Jesus shows by his illustration that sin can be dealt with. The beam and mote can be cast out. Many act as if those who have had beams in their eyes can never again see clearly, but Jesus obviously doesn’t think so. Indeed, these verses have a lot to do with our willingness to repent. Those who readily repent of sin will be far more fair in their view of others.
Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 6:1-9:21
Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:12 “These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;”
Daily Tidbit: Isaiah 5:8 seems to say that houses should not be built right next to each other. Although it can be argued that each landowner should have some privacy, that is not what this verse is about. Instead, joining house to house and field to field describes the activities of powerful and oppressive land barons that had sprung up among God’s people. They took the land of others through financial oppression and, in that way, became the owners of large tracts of adjoining land. As large landholders, they would have more say in the politics of the place as well. Almighty God was not pleased with this land-hoarding.
Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, give us a desire for You that will be the undercurrent of our lives. The pursuit of Truth is so worth it! Father, thank You for how Your Truth shapes our lives into something altogether different. We want to be beautiful masterpieces. Everywhere we look we see You handiwork. And, we know that You can make something that is good out of us. Oh Father, we long for Your goodness in our lives! Allow us to see the glory of Your holiness. You are worthy of all praise and adoration. Your worship is not meant to be shared with another. You alone are God, Almighty and Everlasting. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.
Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for a man having surgery today. Pray for our nation and its leaders. Pray for a man looking for a better work schedule.
Personal Journal Entry #12211