Day 131 "We are not lifted up by those we tear down; we simply reveal how foolish we are ourselves."

Day 131 Matthew 15:10-11 When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear and understand: "Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man." The word defile means to contaminate, make unclean, or to make impure. Jesus is making a point of comparing the defiling that the Jews avoid by obeying the laws of God and the defilement of a man from his own heart. It is relevant to remember that the Jewish people are still, even to this day, under the law. Everything they do in relationship to religion is dictated by the law, yet the condition of the heart does not matter–as long as you fulfill the law, you are sanctified. While in Jerusalem a few years ago, we were able to witness the Jewish observance of Shabbat, or Sabbath. From sundown on Friday night until sundown on Saturday they perform no tasks of work, just as the law states. Therefore, many of the families rent hotels and banquet facilities to prevent themselves from falling short of fulfilling the law by working in any way. As we entered an elevator in which there were some Jewish children, I, of course, pushed the button for the appropriate floor, yet the elevator, after what seemed like an eternity, closed and proceeded to the very next floor, which, by the way, was up rather than down as I had pushed. I'm sure my frustration was obvious as I repeatedly pushed the buttons again, when all of a sudden the children in the elevator, who, by the way, had been running all over the hotel playing rather loudly since arriving, began yelling “Shabbat, Shabbat!” Needless to say, I was a little taken back at the fact that small children would ever yell so loudly and rudely at a complete stranger. I, of course, ignored them and they, of course, yelled more as we left the elevator. Was I blessed by this encounter? Of course not, no more than the man who had a woman yell at him and slap his hand for the same infraction. All of us were confused and, yes, offended to say the least. Were we rude, unassuming Americans? Maybe to them, but to me, the elevator worked fine an hour ago, so now it must be broken, right? The law was never intended to become a tool that was used to beat people with, no more than it was there to redeem the hearts of men. The law was a guideline given by God to set His people on a proper course. If these children or this woman had been filled with compassion, there would not have been anger or reproach in their voices–there would have been love and understanding. I don't presume to know their hearts; however, I heard their hearts by their words. Be it fear of God or frustration with whomever or whatever, how you feel and who you are will come through in the words and the way in which you speak. People who spend their time and focus on being or expecting others to be perfect will be frustrated and angry. Why? Because it is impossible to do so, and if that is the focus, failure and frustration are both imminent and evident in their communication. It is far more feasible to be people who try in every way to follow God's law and upon failure realize our imperfections and seek redemption from the only one who can redeem, Christ Jesus our Lord. Let us be guarded over the words we speak. May we seek to uplift and encourage others rather than beat down and discourage them. After all, tearing others down does not lift us up! Daily Prayer: Father, I confess to You today that I am imperfect, that I have missed the mark, and I ask forgiveness Lord for doing so. Please help me not to expect others to be more perfect than I and to extend to them the same grace I see from You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. "We are not lifted up by those we tear down; we simply reveal how foolish we are ourselves." Pastor Gene Burroughs