The Snare of Judgement: Matthew 7:1-5 (Kindness)

Read Galatians 5:22-23:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Are you ready to make an investment in the Fruit of Kindness?

Read Matthew 7:1-5:

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye."

Allow this verse to penetrate, then select the 'Successful' response.

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a circumstance where you were judging another person as Jesus describes in the Matthew 7:1-5. (Note: if the Holy Spirit did not reveal a circumstance, choose the first one that comes to your mind).

Use the space provided to write down the circumstance.

Go to 'DOCUMENTS' and read Oswald Chamber's observations on this verse.

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

Through the Atonement, Christ has saved you from being judged for every sin you ever committed or will commit in the future. Take a moment to allow that reality to penetrate, then offer your thanks to the Lord.

You can do so privately, or you can use the space provided.

Read Romans 2:1-4:

"You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?"

How strongly do you agree that God's kindness is intended to turn us from away from sin?

Read Matthew 18:21-35:

Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven! “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt. “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt. “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full. “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt. “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

Regarding the circumstance you chose in Step 3, would you like to confess and repent before the Lord?

If so, you can do so privately, or you can use the space provided.

Is there something you would like to ask of God?

If so, you can do so privately, or you can use the space provided.

Take time to pray for the person(s) you chose in Step 3. Get quiet and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you how to pray and intercede for them.

If you do not receive instruction, apply the exact opposite intention of your judgement as a basis to pray for them. For example, if you judged them as being "a negative influence", bless them with being "a source of inspiration to others" (ironically, you will be fulfilling that prayer the moment you bless them!).

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

Optional: go to 'VIDEO' to watch a short film clip on God's kindness.

How much has this Navitent increased the fruit of kindness in your present disposition?