Matthew 7:1-12
“Don’t pick on
people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you
want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s
easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer
on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’
when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling
road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of
just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be
fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.
“Don’t be flip with
the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honor to God. Don’t reduce holy
mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you’re only being cute and
inviting sacrilege.
“Don’t bargain with
God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn’t a cat-and-mouse,
hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him
with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his
plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing. You’re at least
decent to your own children. So don’t you think the God who conceived you in
love will be even better?
“Here is a simple,
rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for
you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God’s Law
and Prophets and this is what you get.
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