In Matthew 7:1 we are told to Judge not unless you want to be judged. I have read that this verse has passed over John 3:16 as the most commonly used verse and I wonder how often I judge others and also if I judge myself when I should not. As far as oneself, self condemnation is an easy attack of the enemy on me and I guess it is similar to lack of faith but my prayer for this is to be able to see others as God sees them and not not focus on myself at all. Ask, Seek, Knock... What doors do I want open versus what doors do I need open?
In 7:14 it says "that small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." This makes it sound like the majority will get it wrong and miss the correct road, am I going with the Majority or trying to hear the still small voice to make sure I am on the correct path and not blindly following after others...
In Chapter 8:26 I feel like this is written to me, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" With all the storms in my life, are there more than in any other life? I do not think so but at times the circumstances of life seem to strive to focus our attention and effort on ourselves. Lord help me to have more faith and not to be scared.
Jesus both spoke and acted as one with authority. Authority. This is important. I need more time with this thought. I need to understand authority better, His and my own, just to start.
ReplyDeleteI also found it interesting to notice for the first time that the parable about the house on rock or sand was the conclusion to the famous sermon on the mount. I like summing things up. I like conclusions. Jesus' was "Listen to me. I know what I'm talking about. Do what I say. For real."