Hi! Thank you for reading the blog post today. Every time I write a blog, I get so excited about what things the Lord leads me to share with you. The more time you spend time with Him the more intimate your relationship will be with Him. Trusting you will glean good understanding and revelation from today’s study. Eric

Let’s begin our study today by looking at Luke 6:36-42 (NKJV), “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. 37 "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." 39 And He spoke a parable to them: "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? 40 "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. 41 "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? 42 "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye.”

In verse 36, we see that God’s love is to be the motivator for our Christian love. We are not to judge nor condemn, but to forgive. In verse 39, we read the beginning of Jesus’ parable which He initiates with the question, “Can the blind lead the blind?” In verse 40 Jesus is basically teaching His disciples that judging, condemning, or withholding forgiveness is a prerogative that belongs to the ‘teacher’ or God. The word, ‘speck’ (karphos) in verse 42, which we see in our neighbor’s eye means: smaller fault, dry twig, straw, or chaff. In comparison, what we do not see is the ‘plank’ (dokos) in our own eye which is a stick of timber or beam.

Emphatically then, we read that Jesus called those who pointed out the faults of others without recognizing and dealing with their own faults a ‘hypocrite’ or from the Greek, a pretender or dissembler. Synonyms for the word ‘dissembler’ are: phony, lip server, fraud, or bigot.

According to the textual notes in the New Spirit Filled Life Bible, Jesus was “dealing with the matter of hypocritical judgment, which violates the law of love. A person who is quick to condemn the faults of others, while ignoring his own short comings, will be of little help to others.” Then in the second part of verse 42, Jesus speaks of the necessity for us to be cleansed from our own errors before we can help others. Thus, what is needful, is that we refrain from judging others, that we diligently ask the Lord to examine “our'“ hearts and then, “we” faithfully respond to His conviction!

Often times it is much easier for us to see the error in someone else’s life than to see the errors in our own. We tend to feel what we do and how we respond to the situations we face is justifiable.

Psalm 19:12 (ESV) reads, “Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.” ‘Discern’ in the Greek means: perceive or understand. ‘Errors’ is sheginyah which means a sin committed through error. The root word for sheginyah is saga meaning: to err ignorantly or of indifference and not of intention. ‘Hidden’ means to hide by covering or to conceal. I cannot tell you how many times I have encountered those who were not remorseful for their hidden sin, until they were caught. What we must realize though is that nothing we do is hidden from God! He sees and is aware of it all!

As we look at Psalm 19:13, “Moreover, keep your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed from blatant rebellion.” If you yield yourself to willful sins, (those you choose to indulge yourself in) you will be in blatant rebellion against God. That is not a place you want to be in, for God is our righteous judge!

It is easy to judge others for the sins we see in their lives, even though we fail to recognize or acknowledge the sin in our own lives, which needs to be removed.

Looking at Psalm 139: 1-3,23 and 24 we read, “LORD, you have searched me and known me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I stand up; you understand my thoughts from far away. 3 You observe my travels and my rest; you are aware of all my ways. ... 23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns (thoughts). 24 See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.” ’Searched’ translated from chaqar, in verse 1 means to examine intimately. ‘Thoughts’ in verse 2 means : purpose, aim, and will. Zara, the Greek for ‘aware’ in verse 3 means: scrutinize or examine thoroughly, while ‘all’ means everything. Put it all together and we see He examines us intimately. Not only is He aware of our sitting down and standing up but also of our coming and going. He understands our thoughts or purpose and also our aim, will, and intentions! He thoroughly examines all (everything) involved in our course of life, actions and undertakings!

Then from reading verses 23 and 24, we see that the Psalmist asks God to examine, investigate, and scrutinize even his thoughts (saraph) which in this verse means: anxieties, disquieting thoughts, and anxious doubts so that God will help him get on the right path.

King David asked the Lord to test, try, and examine both his heart and mind in Psalm 26:2. Perhaps, knowing that the one who was called a man after God’s own heart asked that of the Lord, we should do likewise!

It is God we should want to please and not man. (1 Thessalonians 2:4). Following the crowd will most generally get us into error or trouble!

The standard and method God uses to examine our hearts and minds is through His Word. It may be while we are reading and meditating on it, listening to an anointed message or possibly having the Holy Spirit speaking into our hearts and minds at some unexpected time or way, in which He brings revelation.

Ultimately, it is the Word that reveals our error and sin, even when we are not consciously aware of that sin.

Hebrews 4:12 reveals this truth, “2 For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Psalm 119:9-11 and 14-16 (NIV), “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. 10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. ... 14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. 15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. 16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” We see that the only way a person can stay on the path of purity (innocence) is through living according to the Word of God. We have a loving Father Who will gently correct us through His Word. The Lord has completely provided the way for us to get on and remain on the right path! However, you need to understand that as a loving Father, He will not force us in this matter.

If we choose to reject the Word of God or refuse to learn the Word or live by it - we are in a state of rebellion, which we are told in 1 Samuel 15:23 is as witchcraft.

Romans 13:11,12 and 14 gives us a sober warning, “Besides this, since you know the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, because now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over, and the day is near; so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. ... 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires.” We are propelling toward a day of judgment and reckoning!

2 Corinthians 10:4 and 5 reveals we are to destroy strongholds, arguments, and lofty opinions that are raised against the knowledge of God.

God loves those who pursue righteousness. (Proverbs 15:9). His desire is that we seek Him with our whole heart (Deuteronomy 6:5 and Jeremiah 29:13).

God has promised to never leave nor forsake us, even in those difficult times when we face trials and tribulations. When we continue to turn to Him and remain in the center of His will, He will give us an abiding peace. Isaiah 26:3 (ESV), “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”

In the past, I have found it beneficial to intentionally take a few days to get alone with God. I have chosen to find a place where I would be away from all the distractions of everyday life. My primary focus was to commune with God through reading His Word, being in prayer and sometimes included fasting. In the quietness, I would let God speak to my heart. Attending a retreat where the primary focus was ‘to hear from God’ was also helpful. Find and give God some good quality time alone with yourself. Maybe it would only be for a few hours. A little time is better than none. Be intentional. Jesus was.

Scripture reveals that Jesus spent solitary time praying with the Father often. (Luke 6:12 and Mark 1:35).

We live in a fast paced world when frequently we find ourselves needing to ‘make time’ for meeting with and communing with the Father, where we can ask Him to search us and show us if there is any wicked way in us.

For those who remember singing hymns, the song, “In the Garden” has always expressed that need which we have to commune with Him. It is one of my favorite hymns - maybe it can bless you also.

In the Garden

(Charles Austin Miles 1912)

I come to the garden alone

While the dew is still on the roses

And the voice I hear falling on my ear

The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own;

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,

And the melody that He gave to me

Within my heart is ringing.

I’d stay in the garden with Him

Though the night around me be falling,

But He bids me go; through the voice of woe

His voice to me is calling.

Commune with Him! Ask Him to search you and to reveal where you need to choose to rid yourself of behaviors or attitudes that do not please Him. He will bless you! Then you will be able to help others.

Unless otherwise noted all Scripture is taken from the Christian Standard Bible

NKJV New King James Version

ESV English Standard Version

NIV New International Version