It is for good reason that Christians like to sing about heaven–our home is there and as our dear Bro. Nolan sings, “Heaven is better than this“. Till the day I die I’ll never forget hearing Bro. Earl Smith of High Street Baptist Church sing, “Until Then“. Maybe you ought to grab the hymn book and read the words right now. Dear friend we aren’t promised an easy life on earth, but we are assured of a glorious home in heaven–where there will be no more tears.

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen”– Matt. 28:19-20

“Every word of God is pure…”– Proverbs 30:5

When you watch a play, read books, take in a movie, or even converse with friends, you must have the filter on. Is this worldview right? Are these ideas true? Is this lesson correct? Is the moral of this story actually moral?

But when we come to the Word of God, all the filters must come off. The reason why is that there is no filter—our own ideals, the best philosophies, the most scientific theories—that is as pure as the Word of God itself. If we filter the words of God through our own understanding, then we contaminate, rather than purify, the ideas which are conveyed.

Every word of God is pure. There is not a drop of foolishness in the ocean of God’s revelation. There is not a single falsehood within the many pages of the Bible. Every word of God is trustworthy because every word of God is true.

How do you read your Bible? Do you read it with the filter of your own wisdom, desires, and preconceptions? Or are you allowing the unadulterated word of God to wash over your receptive soul, cleansing it of every prejudice, personal ambition, and sinful ideology?

God’s Word should be a set of glasses through which we view all the rest of the world — music, psychology, biology, journalism, business practices, college lectures, or retirement plans. Anything else is just one fallen head influencing another fallen head.–Baptist Bible Hour

That is good advice. This is not a terminal illness that can’t be cured. Bitterness is something we can do something about. There is no need for any of us to enslaved by such a dreadful thing. We have a choice. We can choose to get bitter or choose to get better.

“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”–Matthew 7:3-5

A pastor was once speaking at a large conference in Washington. Being the main speaker, his sessions were always full and everyone was very attentive, except for one man. One man always sat in the same seat in the front row of his sessions, and halfway into the sermon he would fall asleep. The first time it happened, the pastor thought the man had experienced a tough day of driving to get to the conference and accidently fell asleep. But night after night the same thing happened. Annoyed by the occurrence, the pastor had developed a bitter spirit toward this man. After the conference, the man’s wife approached the pastor and apologized for the man’s actions. As she explained, he had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer, and the new medicine made him drowsy. But his one wish was to hear that pastor preach before he died, so they had made the long, painful journey to be at the conference.

Notice the parable Christ gives in today’s verses: “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” How often have we judged others about sins or shortcomings that are in our lives as well? Why can’t we see our own failures before seeing those of others?

Many times we ignore sin in our lives because we don’t want to deal with the sin. It’s easier to see the problems that other people have rather than dealing with our own problems. If we were honest with ourselves, we probably have more problems than the people we judge!

Notice the symbolism Jesus uses. While a mote refers to a dry stalk or twig, a piece of grass, or a straw; a beam refers to a large plank of wood, similar to a 2×4. Christ says, “While you’re scrutinizing the small issues of other people, there are large looming sins in your own life!”

Much of this teaching was aimed at the religious leaders of the day, those who wanted to point out the minor inconsistencies of the Jewish people while overlooking their blind ignorance of God’s Word. Christ pointed out that rather than judging others, they needed to be judging themselves.

Do you sometimes act like the Pharisees, pointing out the sins of others while ignoring sin in your life? Have you become accustomed to judging others without judging yourself? Take time today to open your heart before God and let Him judge you. Lay out your actions, thoughts, and motives before Him and pray as the Psalmist, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts” (Psalm 139:23). The next time you’re tempted to point out someone else’s sins or failures, be reminded of your own shortcomings and pray that God will help both of you.(Daily in the Word)