June 9, 2023

Taylor Christensen
“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
John 1:17
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."
Matthew 7:1-5

As we close out the week looking at this passage in Matthew 7, I can’t help but notice how it’s only at the very end of these verses that we’re actually called to remove the speck. After we’ve moved away from judgment, practiced self-awareness in our own lives, taken personal responsibility, seen others with compassion, then… and only then… do we step in. Not only does my flesh want to immediately move to this last part of the passage, but I can find myself so easily adopting the playbook of the world as it relates to others… Whether it’s being quick to judge, blaming or deflecting to others, or simply wanting to modify other people’s behaviors instead of myself… extending grace along with truth is so countercultural and yet critical to the unity our culture so desperately craves.

Lord, may I relate to others Your way and not my own. May I love others the way You did, with both grace and truth. May we as a church be known for the way we model this collectively to our culture and beyond.