Matthew 7: 1- 12  "Do not judge lest you be judged."   Here is another kingdom truth... "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you."  

To judge is to criticize, try, condemn, punish, or declare guilty or unfit. It is to look at another person's faults and form your own opinion regardless of the facts.  It is holding another person up to standards that we can't even keep.. 

Jesus is teaching His disciples.. the kingdom citizens.. that there is another way.  It is the way of love.  It is the way of mercy and kindness and gentleness. And.. it starts by being honest with ourselves.  A "hypocrite" is one who holds someone else up to a standard without looking first at his own life.  If we are overlooking the "log" the beam in our own eye.. we have a problem. We need to deal with our own sins, our own misconceptions, our own hearts.  

How?  "Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you."  Our Father in heaven will "give what is good to those who ask Him!" (v7,11)  When we pray.. when we have surrendered it all to the Lord, and we are filled with His Spirit... only then are we ready to lovingly and gently help our brother with the "speck" in his eye.  Isn't that how we all want to be treated?

"Therefore, however you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."  This is love. 

The parallel passage in Luke 6 adds to this teaching.. "And do not judge and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon and you will be pardoned. Give, and it will be given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." (v37-38)  There is so much blessing in taking up this truth and living it out with God's help. 

Andrew Murray wrote about the power of God's love.. "Christ's kingdom is manifested and the reign of love on earth begins.. " when we are yielded to Him and His service.. when our hearts are open.. when His love changes our whole nature.   ".. we may, and can, love with God's own love that is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. If we fully believe that the Holy Spirit will maintain this heavenly love from hour to hour, we shall be able to love God and Christ with all our heart. We shall also be able to love our fellow men and yes, even our enemies."   Love is the greatest power in the world, it is the "power that moved Christ to die for us." 

Spirit of God, fill us with the love of Christ.. the love by with You rule and guide the world. the power of an "undying, persistent love."  Father in heaven, holy and perfect, let Your Light shine in our hearts so that there are no more logs in our eyes.. so that there is great love and humility and grace towards others.  Help us in our weaknesses to be yielded and still before You. Direct our hearts into Your love we ask and believe that in the asking .. we will receive according to Your will. In Jesus' name we come. Thank You. amen.