“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor. Matthew 7:1 CEB

Woah! This sounds like the golden-rule we learned growing up that I don’t hear much about today. If we are going to criticize others for their failures and faults, then we better want the same treatment. What? Who wants that? The answer is none of us, but we are quick to judge others, aren’t we?

The thing I like about this version of the scriptures is how it speaks to our critical spirit and how it has a way of boomeranging. The HCSB version says, “For with the same judgment you use, you will be judged and with the measure you use.” If we are going to use harsh judgement when evaluating others, then we better expect God to use the same standard on us.

When I see sin, do I ask myself the question. Is this sin present in my life? Do I have unrepented sin in my life? I usually do because each day I wake up in this human form and have a thought or something comes out of my mouth that is not godly. I could have even taken it to bed with me the night before and fell asleep before I could get it off my chest. So I have to take a look in the mirror (God’s word) and ask God to show me ways in which I have failed him. I will say something like, “God show me ways in which I have not lived according to your word or walked according to your way”. And guess what, he will!

I can’t help but think the CEB version of Matthew 7:1 was written for women. I use a washcloth every day as most women and the next time I wash my face, I am going to think differently. I am going to reflect on my walk with God and if I am clean enough to offer a washcloth to my neighbor.

How about you? Have you wiped that sneer off your own face so that you are fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor today?

At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:25-30

Recently I was out of town at a conference and while I was away, my husband forgot I was gone. Here’s the story. We set the house alarm before going to bed. I am usually the first one up to turn off the alarm and let our dog outside. My husband got up and went straight to the door to let our dog out and the alarm sounded. Of course the alarm company called wanting to know the password. He proceeded to tell them the alarm code that we punch in every time we use it. They told him this was not the password and he said he didn’t know it then. He hung up and moments later, the County Sheriff arrived at the front door. They wanted to see his identification to make sure he was the homeowner before leaving the property.

I started thinking about how this relates to Jesus and knowing the password. Jesus doesn’t ask us the passcode, he asks us the password. Think of it this way, being religious represents a passcode and having a relationship with Christ is the password. Have you been religious in attending church and doing for God yet not relational with God through Jesus? Jesus invites all to know the password to come to him and once you know Jesus Christ you have the password for life here and for eternity with God.

The moral to the story is this, don’t let the Sheriff find you without the password aka the proper Identification in Christ because the passcode won’t get you into heaven.