The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 7:1-6, 12 (day seven) 

Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. vs 6

What an odd verse to follow an iconic illustration. So much so, that this verse gets lost. Who else felt like you had never really studied this part of the passage? Same here! So, who are the dogs? Who are the pigs, and what are the pearls?  Because this verse is not as cut and dry as the speck and log, there are lots of interpretations, but I would say we can make an educated guess here in light of some context.

Pearls are valuable. What is the most valuable thing we can give to others? The Gospel! Yes, we are not supposed to judge others (speck and log), but God has given us the Holy Spirit to know when it is time to move along. When our attempts to help change the lives of others are met with continual dismissal, sometimes the best thing to do is to move on to the next person. If your pearls are not appreciated, it is okay to find the place where God will put them on display for others to truly see!

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 7:1-6, 12(day six)

They will hammer their swords into plowshares
    and their spears into pruning hooks. Isaiah 2:4

Judgemental words are the weapons of war; they destroy. But we weren’t made to use them. We were created, in God’s image, to speak life and light, to advocate for each other’s flourishing.

By God’s grace and work of his Spirit, may he turn our weapons of war (judgment of others) into gardening tools.

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 7:1-6, 12(day five)  “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”  Jesus’ words are brilliant in this section of His sermon. He knows full well (as should we) that we cannot, on our own, remove any logs (sin).  Only the Lord can do that. Furthermore, this process (every time we are inclined to judge or correct others) of removing our own “logs” should teach us deep humility. Every time we see something sinful in others, there is the possibility/probability of sin in our own hearts and lives that should be dealt with- That’s a lot of confession. And every time the log is removed (only by God) we experience His love and forgiveness- That’s a lot of forgiveness. Maybe we are so quick to judge others because we haven’t experienced and learned from countless times of the Lord’s forgiveness required to adhere to this teaching.

What would our judging words and actions be like (in intensity and frequency) if influenced by hearts that experience constant confession and frequent forgiveness? I’m guessing quite different.

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 7:1-6, 12 (day four) 

Jesus uses the analogy of eyesight a lot in this sermon. In the opening beatitudes, he says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Now he’s showing us what it takes to be able to see God and live with a pure heart, and it’s not easy.

When I used to read this story as a kid I would think, “How do they not know there’s a log in their own eye?! Wouldn’t that hurt?” But that kind of impairment isn’t the sort of thing that happens overnight. Hypocrisy doesn’t spring up out of nowhere. It starts with a small problem of sin, but the longer we go with an unrepentant heart, the more it builds on itself. Eventually, our sin has blinded us so effectively that we look as ridiculous as someone walking around unaware of the log in their eye.

This is why a daily time of confession before God is so essential to the Christian life. We need God’s help in recognizing our own sin. If we’ve developed a log in our eye through years of resentment, pride, and stubbornness, then the only way to remove it is through God’s grace.  The act of humbling ourselves in confession every day before God keeps us from haphazardly judging others, as that kind of judgment only happens in the dark. His grace brings us back to the light, where we can see clearly again.

If you want to follow the golden rule, confession is the first step.

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 7:1-6, 12 (day two) 

For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. vs 2

Have you ever listened to your children, or people who have been around you a long time, using your words when they argue or complain? I have, on more than one occasion, heard my girls arguing using the same phrases I use when disciplining them. More often than not, I cringe to hear my words in their mouths. Whereas when I utter them they come out and I rarely give them thought. To hear them in their mouths is very convicting. It shows how I can often lack grace when I’m upset. Whether we recognize it or not it we often respond negatively to those things we see in others that are really a reflection of our own wounds. When tempted to find fault with someone, find your own contribution to the hurt. You are more likely, then, to show compassion. Recognize where you are weak, and ask the Lord to strengthen those areas rather than castigate someone for struggling with the same issues.

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 6:25-34 (day seven)

Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Matt 6:26

The birds are fed, but do they just sit there and wait for their food to come to them? Maybe just after they are born when they are dependent on their mother, but as they mature, they must work and search for their food. Similarly, you cannot just sit back and wait for God to provide for your every need. He expects you to work. He expects you to search.

Worry and anxiety are heightened by idleness.

The more you sit and wait, the more opportunity you have to doubt and second guess. If you want to be fed (physically and spiritually), you need to get up and get to work. The search will make the feeding more rewarding.

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 6:25-34 (day six)

“My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! ⁴² There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” -Jesus, Luke 1o:41-42

Sometimes, we worry so much about the “details” that we miss who is right in front of us. I think that is one of the things Jesus is saying in the Sermon on the Mount.

Seek first the kingdom of God…

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 6:25-34 (day five)

“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

It’s worth noting that in this short passage, Jesus 3 times says “Do not worry”, and another time He questions the value of worrying. Why all the worrying?  What is it about the human heart that lends itself to worry?  Let me offer 3 possibilities.

First is trust. Remember earlier in this sermon, in the Model Prayer, we are encouraged to pray that God would give us our daily bread. If we pray that way each day and worry about it later, then perhaps we really don’t trust God to meet our needs.

Second is control (close to #1). We take back control of meeting our own needs (the examples Jesus gives are so inward and selfish focused). It’s a description of someone who has resumed complete control of their lives and all the details involved.

Third is despair. The life that looks into the future without any certainty will worry. It’s a distorted view of the future that makes no provision or accounting for the sovereignty of God, the promises of God, and the indwelling of the Spirit.

Lives marked by vibrant faith, obedient surrender, and joyful hope are ones that find very little space and opportunity for worry.