Plank Eyed People

March 15

(Luke 6:39-42 NIV) “He also told them this parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? {40} A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. {41} "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? {42} How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.””

(John 8:3-11 NIV) ““The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group {4} and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. {5} In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" {6} They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. {7} When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." {8} Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. {9} At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. {10} Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" {11} "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin.””

Before we try to deal with another’s sins, we must face the fact that we have a plank in our own eye. Jesus insists that we look in the mirror more than we look around. The Great Physician does miracles for those who confess their sickness, but He cannot help those who refuse to acknowledge their sin. The religious crowd was obsessed with the sins of others. Don’t be like them. When Jesus walked among us, He exuded the love of God. That’s why sinners often responded with genuine repentance. Christ is not prohibiting correction; He is just calling for more reflection. He wants us to stop seeing ourselves as God’s gift to morality. Jesus also knew that redeemed sinners are likely to go and share their grace stories with others. Forgiven sinners understand just how much they owe a Savior who would love them enough to die for their sin. Let's make sure we understand too. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Righteous Judgment

March 14

(Luke 6:37-38 NIV) “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. {38} Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

(Luke 18:9-14 NIV) ““To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: {10} "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. {11} The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. {12} I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' {13} "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' {14} "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.””

(1 Corinthians 5:9-13 NIV) “I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people-- {10} not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. {11} But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. {12} What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? {13} God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you.””

 One of the greatest faults of the church is judging the wrong people in the wrong way. It’s a failing of the flesh in those who should be filled with the spirit of the divine. It’s amazing how those saved by grace can be so graceless toward lost people, yet remain blind to their own sins. When the church’s primary mission becomes maintaining purity, rather than loving and saving sinners, the spirit of the Pharisees has triumphed over the spirit of the cross. There are indeed times when judgments must be made, but we correct those inside, not outside the church. We start with ourselves. Even then, we minister love and preach toward conviction, not condemnation. We resist spiritual pride. We measure with grace, for that is how we want to be measured. We encourage righteousness, not self-righteousness. We strive to be rich in mercy and forgiveness. This is the Jesus way. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Gung-ho for Heaven

March 13

(Luke 6:32-34 NIV) “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. {33} And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. {34} And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full.”

(1 Peter 2:21-23 NIV) “… if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. {21} To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. {22} "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." {23} When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”

Jesus calls us to love our enemies and do good to them. As our hearts rebel at His teaching, here’s something to ponder. Christians often say: “I’ve died to the world. All I possess is now God’s. I’ve given it all up to Jesus and can’t wait to get to Heaven.” But if we really mean that, then why do we resist Christ’s teaching? He says: “Do not harm those who try to take your possessions. Didn’t you say you gave everything to me? Don’t kill those who try to kill you. Didn’t you say you couldn’t wait to get to Heaven?” We struggle with this duality -- Jesus would likely call it hypocrisy. Maybe we haven’t really surrendered it all. Maybe we aren’t really as gung-ho for Heaven as we said. Christ’s words are challenging, confusing, and vexing. They represent the inverse logic of His Kingdom. They represent the heart of God. Can you embrace them? Will you live them out? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

A Golden Rule

March 12

Luke 6:29-31 NIV) “If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. {30} Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. {31} Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

(Romans 12:17-19 NIV) “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. {18} If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. {19} Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.””

The Golden Rule is simple: Treat others like you want to be treated. This may be difficult, but it’s not really complicated. Jesus gives three examples. First, if someone slaps you on the cheek, offer to let them slap you again. Don’t hit back. The Christian trusts in God, not fists. Second, if someone wants to steal from you, give them more than they demand. Go the extra mile. Show them that Christians value people more than possessions. Third, if someone needs what you have, give it to them. Be generous. There are two types of people in this world: godly and ungodly. Ungodly people love those who are good to them. That’s natural, but there’s nothing special about it. Godly people love even those who hate them. That’s supernatural, and stands high above “normal” behavior. It’s no big deal when we love those who love us, but loving those who don’t love you is God stuff. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day