“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:1-5

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“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” Mother Teresa

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This week has been difficult. Well, actually the past few weeks have been difficult. And it has become apparent to me that I have a serious issue I need to address. Because I know that if I DON’T get it under control, it will control me. Simply put: my mouth.

Now we’ve heard sermon after sermon (at least I have) about how we need to reign it in concerning the words we speak over each other. But it just feels so… good. It feels good tearing down another person’s character. It feels good pointing out the faults of others. In some bizarre twisted way, it makes me feel better about myself. It’s quite the problem, isn’t it? We live in a culture that says, “If it feels good, do it!” And even though I’m a believer, and have been for almost 20 years, I still have this problem.

As I type this I’m having trouble seeing… hold on a sec while I adjust these planks in my eye.  The past couple of weeks I’ve accumulated enough wood to build a good-sized dam.

Each time I choose to focus on another person’s short-comings, each time I point out where someone has missed it, each time I self-righteously suggest I could have done a better job – I add another log to the pile. Now all that’s left is to light the match, and a blazing inferno of offense is sure to result.

But Jesus shows me a better way.

Love covers.
Pride strips away.

Love keeps no record of wrongs.
Pride keeps a running list of offenses.

Love is patient.
Pride wants things MY way – the quicker the better.

Jesus’ brother James faced a similar problem, and shared these thoughts with the body of Christ:

“Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.”

“When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.“

“All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.” James 3:1-12

The apostle Paul gave us these additional thoughts:

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29

Convicting, isn’t it? We’re judged more strictly for the sins of our mouths if we assume the role of teacher. I teach everyday – I homeschool. But there are other lives I touch as well that God has placed all around me. And if the eyes of my heart are full of dead wood – my self-righteous thoughts, actions, and words – then the flow of life that God has called me to impart to these precious people is stopped completely. What a travesty. I know it is impossible for me to never mess up in this area. Even James said that no man could tame the tongue.  And that’s great news because…

“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.“ Matthew 19:26

I can’t do it alone, but if Christ lives in me – though I fall again and again, I will eventually have the victory. And to Him will belong all the glory!

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“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

Psalm 19:14