Respect

Matthew 7:1-12

1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

3"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? 4How 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? 5You 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.

6"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.

7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Three points:

1. Respect others by not judging them.

How do we go through life not being judgmental of others? Take a look at your own life. Are you flawless?

2. Respect others by not forcing good things on them (v.6).

3. Respect others by doing to them what you would have them do to you.

A great sermon by Sara Bentley.

Humble Hearts

Humility: "The state or quality of being humble; freedom from pride and arrogance; lowliness of mind; a modest estimate of one's own worth; a sense of one's own unworthiness through imperfection and sinfulness; self-abasement; humbleness."

This is a difficult state of being. Even at our best, we often regard "successes" as being attributed to our hard work and "failures" as the outcome of bad luck or the result of the shortcomings of others. I often get an idea in my head and I'm right, darn it. No one is going to tell me otherwise- when people are finally able to reach the ultimate conclusion, they'll see just how right I am. HA.

This morning I was reminded of my daily struggle to acknowledge my utter incompetence in so many areas; not that I should dismiss them in favor of those areas in which I am more well-versed, but that I should humble my heart and my mind and seek to learn from those who know.