Mon, Jul 20, 2009
God is not Naive
Scripture
2 But God isn’t so easily diverted. He sees right through all such smoke screens and holds you to what you’ve done.3 You didn’t think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard?4 Or did you think that because he’s such a nice God, he’d let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but he’s not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change.
Observation
This passage is speaking to a people that are a bit Pharisaical in their approach, as we often might be. We see those that are so obviously "on a downward spiral" and judge them, speaking out against their wicked ways, yet we fail to "take the log out of our eyes. In The Message version it portrays us trying to pull the wool over God's eyes, diverting his attention to those that are supposedly "doing worse". "3 You didn’t think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard?" God is not naive, He sees all, he knows all. And it is not our place to judge. God will do the judging. No one is perfect, no one is Holy but him.
Application
It's so important not to jump up on a podium and condemn those whom we think are sinning, because as soon as we do that the spotlight shines on us. Not only does God see all, but our sins, our little annoyances, our pushing of the boundaries becomes are lit up to those that we are condemning. And we in turn become a shooting target, fiery arrows coming back at us from those we have condemned. We instead should allow God to work on us, 4b"In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change." Focus on God giving us that radical life change and through the way we live our lives influence those around us, not by words but by devotion, passion and action.
Prayer
Jesus, make me just like You. Turn my eyes from frustrations of those around who are not following you with their whole life, and instead help me to keep my eyes fixed on you, the Author and Finisher of my faith, and trust that my life story will be an active beacon to light the way for others. Through action, not through condemnation.
2 But God isn’t so easily diverted. He sees right through all such smoke screens and holds you to what you’ve done.3 You didn’t think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard?4 Or did you think that because he’s such a nice God, he’d let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but he’s not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change.
Observation
This passage is speaking to a people that are a bit Pharisaical in their approach, as we often might be. We see those that are so obviously "on a downward spiral" and judge them, speaking out against their wicked ways, yet we fail to "take the log out of our eyes. In The Message version it portrays us trying to pull the wool over God's eyes, diverting his attention to those that are supposedly "doing worse". "3 You didn’t think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard?" God is not naive, He sees all, he knows all. And it is not our place to judge. God will do the judging. No one is perfect, no one is Holy but him.
Application
It's so important not to jump up on a podium and condemn those whom we think are sinning, because as soon as we do that the spotlight shines on us. Not only does God see all, but our sins, our little annoyances, our pushing of the boundaries becomes are lit up to those that we are condemning. And we in turn become a shooting target, fiery arrows coming back at us from those we have condemned. We instead should allow God to work on us, 4b"In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change." Focus on God giving us that radical life change and through the way we live our lives influence those around us, not by words but by devotion, passion and action.
Prayer
Jesus, make me just like You. Turn my eyes from frustrations of those around who are not following you with their whole life, and instead help me to keep my eyes fixed on you, the Author and Finisher of my faith, and trust that my life story will be an active beacon to light the way for others. Through action, not through condemnation.
From the YouVersion Blog RSS Feed
Videos for you to use Introducing YouVersion Live to your Group, Church or Event
Below are a couple resources we wanted to pass on to all of you who have been creating groups and events... Read more »
