“Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and look, the log is in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:4)

When it comes to sin in our life, the only perfect surgeon is the Lord.  What do we know of the soul of another?  Yes, we see and at times might be right, but we do not know.  How much damage is done by the judgement of others?  We all have our sin issues and the answer is with grace, mercy, and understanding that God’s law is good and applies to us all.  Yes, love your neighbor, but do not do so through the eyes of judgement.

Lord, I see that this is one of those paradoxes which lead me on the narrow road.  I have my sin issues and so does my neighbor.  I need to love others through Your eyes.  I look to Your word and know what is right both for my neighbor and me, but I also need to understand grace more and more so that I am able to help and not judge my neighbor.  But also, I need to be humble so that I am willing to receive the same help from another.

Lead me Lord in the way of salvation.  Lord Jesus, You know all that I need.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to humbly walk with You, doing what You would have me do both for my neighbor as well as me.  May I learn from You how to live so that I may always share the goodness of Your grace and mercy.  Lead me to be a log remover in myself first always.  Amen.

“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3)

Have you ever noticed how critical people are?  How about politics?  Folk there are downright nasty.  Why, if you believe what they say, does it narrow down to a choice of two sinful folk to choose from?  This is the world, but it is not to be so with those who follow Christ.  Everyone has a story.  Everyone needs the love of Christ.  We are not to see others as sinners alone, but as those whom Jesus died for.

Lord, You know where I do not see others as I ought.  I am guilty of making their faults larger than mine.  Lead me so that I have compassion, no matter another’s fault and see others as You see them.  Rather than being harsh and judgmental, help me to be merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in love for others as You have love and compassion for others.  Help me to see more clearly.

Lord, You know I have issues.  Guide me on an inward journey today so that I meditate upon the logs in my own eyes.  Give me a spiritual axe to chop up the logs and be rid of those things which cause me to see with sinful eyes.  Then heal me and grant me eyes that see with love.  You know all that I need Lord.  Help me to grow in Your image today by seeing things that I need to see differently.  Amen.

“For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you” (Matthew 7:2).

Do you measure with hatred or with love?  Do you measure with condemnation or with mercy?  Do you measure with retribution or with grace?  The Lord has come to change our hearts.  He is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.  Come to the Lord and allow the Holy Spirit to change your heart to see others as the Lord sees you.  Then, discern the criteria and measure others as the Lord measures you.

Lord, You know this would be an investment of my time with a willingness to invest in others.  Often, I just write people off as irritating or as a nuisance.  Do change my heart so that I see others through Your eyes.  Guide me in the way of salvation so that I may now and forever be led in the way You would have me see the actions of others.  Lead me to become like Christ my Savior.

Dear Jesus, when I was young, I heard these words as a harsh admonition.  Now I see them as a loving direction.  You mean for me to see others through the eyes of love.  Guide me Lord so that I may indeed see others as You see them.  This does not mean I ignore them, or do not discern wrong action, but it does mean that I care enough for the other that I love them as You love them.  Help me to do this.  Amen.

“Do not judge, so that you will not be judged” (Matthew 7:1).

There are five primary words in Greek that are translated as judgment in the New Testament.  This word means separating the goats from the sheep, the wheat from the tares.  We are forbidden to do this because we do not know.  We may see what appears to be unfaithfulness and we are to judge that, but never call out someone and say they are going to hell.  Jesus died for every one of us.

Lord, I have judged others this way.  Instead of looking with eyes of condemnation, which is cloaked with hatred, help me to have eyes of love so that I see that everyone is precious in Your sight.  Lead me in the way You would have me go so that I see an opportunity with each possible brother or sister that I meet.  Let me judge others in love praying that in the end, You will judge me through the eyes of love.

Lord Jesus, where I separate in my mind those who are yours from those whom I believe are not, confront me.  No matter how heinous the behavior, I do not know the outcome.  Grant me eyes of love that are willing to always reach out with the same grace You have given me.  Guide me in the upward way to live according to the goodness You are teaching me.  Let me not fear Your judgement, but help me to fear your disappointment always.  Amen.

“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34).

There are two places where the wicked seeks to trap us: with yesterday or tomorrow.  We do not know whether or life here will be over five minutes from now.  We do live for another time constantly.  Why?  You can make plans, but our today is constantly changing.  You live in this moment and this is the only moment in which you have any ability to act.  Luther said when asked if he knew that he would die tomorrow what he would do today.  He said, “I would plant an apple tree.”  Live in today.

Lord, You have given me today.  This is the day You have made and You have asked me to rejoice in it.  Guide me now and always in today.  Yes, I need to make plans for all of the tomorrows which might be mine, but I do not know when my journey here will end.  Help me so that I walk the fine line between these things without crossing into the zone of worrying about the unknown future.

Lord Jesus, You did not instruct me to make no plans, but You have given me instructions to walk faithfully each day that You give me in this age.  Help me to walk with You so that I may be resilient to do those things that pop up day by day.  In all that I do, may I have the priorities You are speaking about.  Lead me in the way of righteousness.  Lead me and teach me how to be faithful each day.  Amen.

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you” (Matthew 6:33).

Jesus says it plain and simple here.  Seek the Lord first.  Do not let this just be an idea in your head, but the reality of your life.  Seek the Lord.  He is here and may be found.  When your priorities are straight, everything else falls into place.  The Father knows what you need.  He knew you before you were born and He knows the plans He has for you.  Seek His righteousness.

Lord, I fight against You because I do not want to be controlled.  But even in saying this, I fail.  I am tossed about by the ever-changing whims of the culture.  I look at old pictures and see that I did care about the clothing I wore.  It is silly now.  Help me to focus upon what it means to be righteous.  Help me to know that only in You is there true and everlasting life.  Lead me the way I need to go.

Lord Jesus, You have spoken the truth plainly for all to hear.  You have told me to set the right priorities.  Guide me this day so that I may walk humbly in Your presence.  When I am confronted with the old desires that get in the way, let me see this plainly.  Help me to now and always look to You as the One who must lead me in faith.  Guide me in the ways of pursuing Your kingdom and the righteousness You offer.  Amen.

“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear for clothing?’  For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” (Matthew 6:31-32).

What is it that you live for?  We live in an age where people scramble one on top of the other seeking after approval, status, or any number of other things.  Jesus is asking us why we would fall into the trap of these things.  Why do you live for food or clothing?  You were created for real and eternal life.  The Father knows what you need and has already made provision for each of us.

Lord, You know that I do long after these things.  The old Adam in me wants to be recognized.  Guide me away from such fleeting distractions to focus upon those things that will shape me into Your image.  I often do not know where to begin, but You know the plans that the Father has placed before me.  Guide me in the way You would have me go and lead me according to Your will to walk in a life of faith.

Come Holy Spirit and check my spirit when I go back into old habits.  I know I can enjoy food and clothing, but keep me from living for them.  Keep me in the safe place where I do not cross the line when tempted.  Lead me now and always to live into the life for which You have created me.  Help me to eagerly seek first Your kingdom knowing that the Father has already provided all that is needed.  Amen.

“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!” (Matthew 6:30)

Do you not see that the Lord provides for all, sometimes even if it is for just a short while?  The Lord knows what we all need.  He provides.  Yes, there are the covetous and greedy who take from others, but there is enough for all.  How much time do you waste fretting over things that are temporary.  Do you spend the same amount of time seeking the Lord and His wisdom?

Lord, You are always calling to me.  You have come so that I may have life and have it abundantly.  This age convinces me to hoard.  You tell me to trust You.  You know the struggle I face.  Only You can take these words which are most certainly true and implant them deep in my heart so that they become a part of who I am.  Take these words from my head to my heart, Lord.

Come Holy Spirit and work deep in my soul.  You know where I covet and hold onto things that do not matter.  Free me from those things which enslave me so that I may become a slave of the Most High.  Guide me to not be prudish, but prudent.  Remove my temper and replace it with temperance.  Above all, lead me in the most cherished attributes of faith, hope, and charity.  Amen.

And why are you worried about clothing? Notice how the lilies of the field grow; they do not labor nor do they spin thread for cloth, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these” (Matthew 6:28-29).

Have you noticed how fashions are always changing?  The purpose of clothing is both for modesty and coverage for weather.  That’s it.  But how we love to make frills and changes.  Clothing is fine, but remember that Jesus left behind one thing that others wanted, his heavy outer garment.  Clothing is just a covering.  What is on the inside?  That is what Jesus is interested in.

Lord, help me to understand that You have come so that we may have life here, now, and forever,  You have created life to be lived in a certain way and we are not living that way.  You have come to teach us the way of everlasting life.  The rich and the poor wear clothing.  As long as it does its job, it really makes no difference.  Help me to come to the place where this is true for me.

Lord Jesus, you know the things I have coveted.  You know where I have been enticed into fashions and trends.  This world is always tugging at me.  Lead me deep in my soul to be functional and not tempted by the trends of society.  Guide me to be one who looks to You first always and for all things. Lead me to invest in the true wealth of Your presence, purpose, and power.  Amen.

“Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather crops into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more important than they?  And which of you by worrying can add a single day to his life’s span?” (6:26-27)

In the sight of God, so much of what we do is quite silly.  Work hard, accumulate stuff, die, and the stuff is given away.  Rich or poor, it seems to be the same.  The point?  Really, it’s quite pointless.  What are you here for?  You have been invited to be transformed into the image of Christ by grace through faith.  The stuff of life is fine while this earthly life lasts, but Jesus is forever.  He who is forever invites you to prepare to be with Him forever.

We all need to do what we do in this time in which we live, but what are your inward priorities?  Meditate on where you are going and how you are getting there.  Do your priorities line up with what Jesus is teaching us?  If not, why not?  We’re not talking about religious fanaticism, but the truth for all ages.  Are you becoming like Christ?  Are you living into the new life which you will have forever?

Lord Jesus, I see in the Gospel,  from Your example, that You were amongst the people, loving them, and living with them, only without sinning.  Help me to live that way.  Help me to live joyfully as one who is gracious, kind, and determined in this life You have given me in the calling You have given me.  Lead me in the way You would have me go each and every day.  Amen.