'Seeing Clearly'

practical help for us to see clearly so we can make good assessments of people and resolve problems.

Jesus warns his followers against emotions and sins to obscure our vision of people in Matthew 7:1-5. His metaphor of the speck and the plank are easy to understand. We are too quick to pick at someone’s small issues in their lives and things that annoy us. All the while, we have no self-reflection to understand the significant issues we have. Jesus is telling us to humble ourselves before God before we start lording ourselves over others.   They have a small issue that they may be wrong about. The closer we are the Christ, the more He will reveal to us which will lead to our own change and growth.

Jesus tells us that we need to see clearly when people are teaching so we can discern the truth. Matthew 7:15-20 tells us that we can look at two things that will tell us if the person is guiding us rightly. First, we need to always take what someone is teaching and see if scripture supports what they are saying. Sometimes it is easy to discern and other times it is more difficult. In those cases, Jesus tells us that we need to look at the fruit of their teaching. What does that person’s life look like? Has their teaching produced godly character filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control? We can discern the teaching by the fruit it produces in the teacher.

Finally, Jesus addresses how to correct brothers and sisters in Matthew 18:15-20. If someone is sinning, go to the person as a loving friend to help them see what is going on in their lives and how to allow Jesus to change them. If they receive it, great. If they don’t, then we should get a mediator or two who can help us see the issue better. Maybe the person you addressed didn’t see the issue clearly. Maybe you didn’t. The third party can help give more objective view and advise. 

Read Matthew 7:1-5; 7:15-20; and 18:15-20 straight in a row. Allow the texts to speak to you. The Holy Spirit will give you greater understanding about judgement and discernment. He may also convict you of how you can care for someone in a more productive way. Take the challenge and see your life changed by the Spirit.

Blessings,

Jonathan