Embrace the Within no. 147

“Do not give that which is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, for they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces [In this verse “dogs” and “pigs” represent those who despise sacred things].

Matthew 7:6 AMP

I can’t be discouraged when I bring the good news of the Lord to folks that trample the Truth and despise love. Folks are going to be exactly who they are until they decide to change. Just as I was exactly who I was until the moment I decided to change and God loved me even though I was me.

I think this verse can get us too much into superiority and too much into name calling if it is taken out of context of the work of Christ here on earth. I can begin to see the unsaved and unrepentant as less than me, forgetting that I was once unsaved and unrepentant. I wasn’t a dog or a pig back then BUT I treated the Truth and righteousness like an animal would something beautiful. I would tear it up and misuse the Truth just like an ignorant beast.

Humility and perspective is important in my walk with the Lord. After time, I can begin to think that I am better than those dogs and pigs. BUT I am at heart a repentant dog or a saved pig. I can even more easily be trampling the Word again than following His Way. And I need to remember that it wasn’t anything within my power that transformed me. It is only through Him that an eternal change can happen. It is only through Him that I can be saved and sanctified. It is only through Him that He can see Christ in me.

I pray that I do not lose sight that I was once someone that trampled the Truth under my feet. I pray that I do not lose sight that I once tore the Truth to pieces. I pray that I always remember that I am not better than where I once was. There is nothing holy or righteous of me worth saving BUT He saved me regardless. There is nothing I can do to make any of what I have promised worthy of me BUT I get to be worthy regardless. I pray that I do not lose patience with those that treat the Word as something to trample and tear. I pray that the Spirit walking within me manifest its fruit when I face those that disregard and abuse His Word. I pray that I always remember that every good thing I do this side of eternity and beyond is a reflection of His love for me.

I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #NotMyWayYHWH

Embrace the Within no. 146

“Do not judge and criticize and condemn [others unfairly with an attitude of self-righteous superiority as though assuming the office of a judge], so that you will not be judged [unfairly]. For just as you [hypocritically] judge others [when you are sinful and unrepentant], so will you be judged; and in accordance with your standard of measure [used to pass out judgment], judgment will be measured to you. Why do you look at the [insignificant] speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice and acknowledge the [egregious] log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me get the speck out of your eye,’ when there is a log in your own eye? You hypocrite (play-actor, pretender), first get the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

[This is not a prohibition of judgment, nor is it a command to stop using godly wisdom, common sense, and moral courage together with God’s written word to discern right from wrong, to distinguish between morality and immorality, and to judge doctrinal truth. There are many judgments that are not only legitimate, but are commanded [cf John 7:24; 1 Cor 5:5, 12; Gal 1:8, 9; 1 John 4:1-3; 2 John 10]; however, you cannot judge another if you are committing the same type of sin.]

Matthew 7:1-5 AMP

I love the note that accompanies these verses in the amplified translation. We are given the ability to judge what is right and what is wrong through the wisdom of God spoken in our hearts by the Ruach HaKodesh. What these verses are about is how we treat others. When folks say “hate the sin and not the sinner” and they really just use it as an excuse to have heart problems. When they use God’s judgment as a way to feel superior to other folks like we are some sort of treasure, that is what these verses are all about.

I know what is moral and immoral. I know what God wants me to do. His Will is spelled out in His Word and is written on my heart by the Spirit. So, I can easily discern what I should do. I can easily judge what is right for me to do.

BUT, I am not the judge of The Day of Judgment. I am not here to represent God’s judgment on earth for everyone. I am not here to rain down fire and judgment on others. I don’t see Christ doing that anywhere in His ministry. And if anyone was in a position to judge humanity, it was Him and not me. I am just as flawed, just as broken, just as unworthy, and just as sinful as everyone else before Christ stood in the gap and gave me the Way.

I am not here to get the specks out of everyone else’s life. I am not here to tell everyone what I would do if I were them. I am not here to live anyone else’s life. I am here to live my life for Christ. And Christ wasn’t walking around making folks feel bad unless they thought they were better than everyone else. He was bringing in the unworthy. He was healing the sick. He was helping the broken. He was correcting the self righteous. He wasn’t making folks feel inferior for trying to follow Him. He taught them.

Why do I feel like I need to be in control of everyone else? Why do I need to manage other people? Why can’t I worry about my walk with the Lord? Why can’t I have a heart of thanksgiving for the grace I was granted? Why can’t I have a heart of kindness and forgiveness? Why can’t I teach rather than judge?

I pray that I have an open heart today when I see others struggling. I pray that I look at them with the same empathy that Christ had when He walked with us. I pray that my heart is like Christ’s in finding the way to help rather than harm. I pray that my witness be one of pure love that reflects God’s love. I pray that I save judgment for what is godly and righteous and not for others. I pray that I will be a help and not a hindrance in my representation of God’s Will here on earth.

I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #NotMyWayYHWH