Devotion
Hey buddy, you have some dust in your eye!
David Jacobs
It is not easy to be criticized, even if it is constructive. My lovely wife, who I love more than anyone except my children (don't tell them), gave me a healthy piece of advice that maybe some of you have heard as well: "Honey, why don't we join a gym?" She wanted me to be healthier and live longer, but her question made me defensive: why should I join a gym if she doesn't go to the gym? It made me sad that this was my initial reaction because I realized eventually that she was not trying to tell me that she thought I was unattractive. She was telling me that she wanted someone to go to the gym with her! I was quite embarrassed that I felt the way I did...luckily I kept my mouth shut.
We don't always receive constructive criticism; sometimes it is destructive. Have you heard the phrase, "the pot calling the kettle black"? It means when someone tells you that you act a certain way, generally with a negative connotation, that they also exhibit. It reminds me of these verses from the gospel of Matthew. If King David said to his sons, "I can't believe you committed adultery. That is so bad," I can only imagine how they would roll their eyes considering the actions of their father (2 Samuel 11). We should focus on our own problems rather than criticizing the problems of others. All this criticism does is fall on deaf ears and get flung back in our face because it is like a black pot calling a black kettle...black.
Nobody is perfect, yet we all have a chance to be redeemed. We should focus on our own salvation and in doing so, led by example.
Prayer
Do not put others down and try to tell them how to live their lives; live your own life as we know we should: according to the word of God, following the path lain out by his son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Devotion
We will Do It
Why do you obey
Frances Taylor
Moses came down from the mountain and told the people what the Lord had commanded. They all said, Okay! No problem! As we shall see in a few days, that didn't last long. The Israelites said yes over and over to God, and then said, no, over and over again. So much like us! It's a good thing God forgives us over and over again. It is always interesting to read the full account of the commandments and their amplified meaning in Exodus, because it gives an idea of what the civilization was like in those days. The commandments were not all totally new as many of them were based on the code of Hammurabi. The first three commandments were new as they listed the proper behavior towards God. The other seven concerned social behavior and social structure. So, what's the difference between Hammurabi's code and the Ten Commandments other than the first three? The difference is in the why. We don't obey the commandments because they promote civility...
Morning Prayer
Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.
Inspiration
Our mouths may be filled with all sorts; idle chatter, gossip, news, profanities or slander. Yet it would be best of all to fill it with praise and love. God gave us our voices to not only communicate, but to choose our words wisely. Don't use it to injure or babble, but to spread his gospel and praise.
Prayer
Lord Almighty I exalt your name on earth as in Heaven. Grant me the wisdom and the will to spread your name and deeds, to use my voice for beauty and truth rather than lies and disparagement. Grant me this Lord, in your holy name I pray, Amen.
