08-Jul-2024 – Hear, Believe, and Practice
“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock – Matthew 7:24”
When someone gives us advice, we first hear them. Then, if we believe what they say, we act accordingly. In this chapter, Jesus provides several recommendations for living in a way that glorifies the Lord.
“Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them” means if you believe what I say and implement my recommendations. Conversely, “And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not” means if you don’t believe.
Let’s consider one of Jesus’ instructions:
“Judge not, that ye be not judged.- Matthew 7:1”
Judging is the act of forming an opinion on whether something is good or bad based on observed evidence. What’s the problem with judging? When we judge someone negatively, it hinders communication and creates a difficult environment. Conversely, judging someone positively can increase communication and spread their perceived goodness. However, if our judgment is incorrect, it leads to negative outcomes.
As human beings, we cannot grasp all perspectives of a situation. Therefore, it’s better to refrain from judging others. This doesn’t mean we should ignore wrongdoing like theft or murder. These situations undergo thorough evaluation based on evidence before reaching a verdict of guilty or not guilty.
If you believe Jesus and His words, you will accept this truth and implement it in your life. You will not judge people but instead seek to understand their motives and situations, validating what you hear.
What’s the benefit of this? When your turn comes, you will not be judged harshly. If you are known for not judging others hastily, your actions will have a positive impact on those around you.
Today, we used judging as an example. Whatever Jesus instructs us to do, if we believe, we will practice it.
Prayer:
Dear loving Heavenly Father, thank you for your love and grace. Thank you for teaching us today about believing your words and putting them into practice by explaining with an example. Help us to believe in you in any situation and act accordingly. We pray in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen!
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