Psalm 18:1-20; Deut. 4:32-40; 2 Cor. 12:1-10; Matt. 7:1-12
Sometimes we need to simply remember what God has done for us. We need to have our world re-enchanted by recalling the incredible things God has done in our lives, through our lives and for our lives. Moses here reminds the people there is no story on earth like their own. Did Yahweh really take them out from the nation and the land of Egypt? Did He speak to them, did they really hear His voice on the mountain? Did He choose them and give them, of all people on earth, they who were not a nation and had never possessed anything of their own, His law and now the promise of the Land? These things seem absolutely impossible but they all happened and they need to recall how incredible it is that they have such a relationship with the God of the universe. So do we!
Judge not that you be not judged. Does this mean we are not to judge? It is an admonition to us to deal with sin in our own lives ruthlessly in order that we mind our own business with respect to others sins. We tend to be far better at finding sin and fault with others than we are at the same for ourselves. Jesus knows our nature well and this teaching is based on that knowledge. We all stand convicted there. I am no one’s judge but I do have a responsibility to speak the truth in love to my brothers and sisters just as they have that same right towards me. Jesus speaks on prayer in terms that tell us the nature of our relationship to God, He compares it to a parent/child relationship. We should always be thankful that we can pray to God as our Father, it is too good to be true but it is.
What is your attitude towards God’s “no”? If you’re anything like me it isn’t good. In that Gospel lesson Jesus seems to indicate that we will get what we ask for but that isn’t Paul’s experience but he was willing to hear no and then wait for the answer to another question, “Why?” God’s answer seems cold, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Paul’s response is amazingly godly, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” That is a man that does “no” well and it is all because of His complete trust in God’s goodness. May the Lord do such a work in me that I can have that attitude towards no.
Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son
And now, Let the weak say "I am strong"
Let the poor say "I am rich"
Because of what the Lord has done for us
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