Seeing The Way Of Our Hearts

"For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?" - Matthew 7:2-4

The following are the words from a comment a friend posted with yesterday's devotion. 

"If we compare ourselves to another sinner, we will always seem better people, more holy, more spiritual and we will have no need to change. But if we see ourselves in the light of the WORD Of GOD we will see the way of our heart, the thoughts and intentions and then we will understand the urgent need we have of Christ, the urgent need to CHANGE!" - (N. P.)

In psychology they call condemning others in that way Projection. "Projection is a defense mechanism in which an individual unconsciously attributes their own undesirable thoughts, feelings, or behaviors to another person or group. It is a way of protecting oneself from anxiety and guilt associated with these unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or behaviors." -  Dr. Mayank Saxena

Unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or behaviors is the world's way of describing sin. We don't want to think of ourselves as sinners even when we nod our heads in the affirmative when we read the Word of God about sin. We say "yes" and "amen" to verses like these.

"None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God." - Romans 3:10-11

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" - Romans 3:23

The truth is that we all struggle with sin. We want forgiveness to be freely given to us but are slow to grant the same grace and mercy to others. In fact, we often stand, pridefully, with the attitude that "there but for the grace of God go I".  I am reminded of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in the Book of Luke.

"He [Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you; this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." - Luke 18:9-14

One of my favorite verses is Micah 6:8. (I will let you look it up.) It describes how God wants us to live our lives. How to show Jesus to a desperately wicked world. It is a picture of the tax collector.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone