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drjameslongjr · 3 months ago

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“Counseling through the Word” Devotional: Facing Your Own Shortcomings

“Counseling through the Word” Devotional: Facing Your Own Shortcomings

Scripture: Matthew 7:3-5 (ESV) - "Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." Jesus' teaching in Matthew 7:3-5 is a powerful reminder of the importance of self-examination. It's easy to point out the faults in others, but much harder to confront our own shortcomings. Yet, Jesus calls us to do just that. Before we can help others, we must first address the sin in our own lives. This passage encourages us to approach others with humility, recognizing that we, too, are in need of grace.

Devotional Thought

The imagery Jesus uses is striking—trying to remove a speck from someone else’s eye while ignoring the log in your own. It’s an exaggerated picture, but it drives home a vital truth: we often overlook our own sins while focusing on the faults of others. This can lead to a judgmental attitude, where we elevate ourselves above others instead of recognizing that we all fall short of God’s standards. Facing your own shortcomings is not about self-condemnation, but about humility and honesty before God. When you acknowledge your own need for grace, you can approach others with compassion rather than criticism. This doesn’t mean ignoring sin in others, but addressing it in a way that reflects the love and forgiveness you’ve received from Christ. Jesus doesn’t forbid helping others with their struggles; rather, He calls us to do so with the right heart. After dealing with your own sin, you will be in a better position to gently and lovingly help others. The process of self-examination and repentance equips you to see clearly and guide others in a way that honors God.

Bringing it Home: Applying What We Learned

- Self-Examination: Take time to reflect on areas in your life where you need to repent and seek God’s forgiveness. Ask Him to reveal any "logs" that may be hindering your spiritual vision. - Humble Help: When addressing the faults of others, do so with humility, remembering that you, too, are a recipient of God’s grace. Approach others with a heart of compassion rather than judgment. - Growth Through Grace: Embrace the process of personal growth by allowing God to work in your life, removing obstacles that prevent you from walking in His light.

Prayer

Lord, help me to see my own shortcomings and to seek Your grace and forgiveness. Give me the humility to address my own sin before helping others with theirs. May I approach others with the same love and compassion that You have shown me. Amen.

Questions for Reflection

- What are some areas in your life where you need to seek God's forgiveness? - How can you approach others with humility and compassion rather than judgment? - What steps can you take to allow God to remove obstacles in your life that prevent you from walking in His light?

Take the Next Step on Your Journey

Thank you for joining me today. If you found this lesson helpful, I encourage you to explore more resources and support on my website, https://jameslongjr.org/. You can also watch my video on my YouTube channel. Finally, would you consider joining our Lessons for Life monthly membership or our online group coaching, where you’ll find powerful coaching videos, a supportive community, and step-by-step guidance for lasting transformation? Remember, true change is possible when you walk in God’s grace and for His glory. Until next time, may you find peace, hope, an Read the full article

#matthew7-3-5 #self-confrontation #selfexamination

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badzkyrie · 7 months ago

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The True Path to Salvation: Why Religion Alone Cannot Save Us

Many people turn to religion seeking salvation, hoping that by following a set of rules or rituals, they can earn their place in heaven. But what does the Bible, the word of God, say about this? According to Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." This passage clearly states that salvation comes through faith in God's grace, not through our own works or religious practices. Our salvation is not something we can earn; it’s a gift from God, given freely to those who put their trust in Jesus Christ. This doesn’t mean that church practices are irrelevant, but rather that they are not the means by which we are saved. Jesus has already secured our salvation by dying on the cross because of His love for us and His knowledge that we cannot save ourselves. As John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." This verse highlights the incredible love and grace of God, who offers salvation to all who believe in His Son, Jesus Christ. Salvation is not earned through human efforts or good deeds or merits; it’s a gift from God, made possible through His grace and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. No amount of religious striving can earn us eternal life—it's only through faith in Jesus that we can have true salvation. Our salvation is entirely dependent on God's grace, not on our own efforts or merits. It’s a humbling reminder that we cannot save ourselves. In John 14:6, Jesus declares, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Here, Jesus makes it clear that He is the only way to God the Father. Salvation is found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, not through religious systems or rituals. Religious systems are man-made and no man can dictate the way to reach God; it is God who reached out to us by sending His only begotten Son to save us. Consider also Matthew 7:21-23, where Jesus says, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." This passage emphasizes the importance of aligning our lives with God's will and putting only our faith in Him, rather than just going through religious motions. The message is clear: religion alone cannot save us. It is only through God's grace, as revealed in Jesus Christ, that we can have true salvation and eternal life. We should place our faith not in our own religious efforts, but in the unmerited favor of God, who offers us forgiveness and redemption through His Son Jesus Christ. If you are still in doubt and unsure about where you will go after you die, it is not too late. Accept the love of God, humble yourself, acknowledge that you are a sinner who needs a Savior, and put your faith in Jesus Christ alone. He died for you to give you eternal life. You don’t know what will happen tomorrow. Accept Jesus as your Lord and personal Savior. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Now is the time, now is the day of salvation. As 2 Corinthians 6:2 says, "For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." How to be saved? Read: ABC of Salvation or Romans Road to Salvation Read the full article

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skoop39 · 1 year ago

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kipog · 2 years ago

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"Did you mean it?"

an Emily is Away fan fiction written by Kipog

Mat x OC

• 1/7/20 • Wednesday • 10.57 am •

Matthew7: dudeee

ColdWeather: yes?

Matthew7: I'm actually gonna die like NOW

ColdWeather: and why is that?

Matthew7: college starts in like a month ugh

ColdWeather: I'm well aware

Matthew7: it sucks that we won't be going to the same school anymore :/

ColdWeather: yeah, it'll suck but I'm sure that we can find some time to hang out right?

Matthew7: yeah I guess ://

ColdWeather: hey cheer up man, wanna hop on some r6?

Matthew7: always >:)

• 30/7/20 • Thursday • 6.08 pm •

Matthew7: SAGE

ColdWeather: yeah? why are we yelling lmao

Matthew7: college is starting in like 4 days!!!!

ColdWeather: yep, I've started to pack my stuff for it, you've started too right?

Matthew7: ...

Matthew7: anyways, we should hang out! this could be our last hang out ever man

ColdWeather: oh don't be so dramatic, we'll hang out during college too

Matthew7: I know but I still wanna hang out before it starts :/

ColdWeather: I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel the same

Matthew7: we can get absolutely fucking wastedd on my roof tonight!!!!

ColdWeather: that's one hell of a way to hang out

Matthew7: It's the last day we can hang out before break ends! gotta go off with a bang

Matthew7: so youre coming right??

ColdWeather: yeah yeah yeah I'll be there by 9

Matthew7: hell yes!!!! I'll see you there!!

ColdWeather: see yaaa

Matthew7 is offline

ColdWeather is offline

• 18/8/20 • Tuesday • 4.46 pm •

Matthew7: hey

ColdWeather: yo

Matthew7: soo hows college treating you?

ColdWeather: it's been treating me alright i guess, what about you?

Matthew7: its been super boring ngl ://

Matthew7: make any new friends yet?

ColdWeather: I think so, her name is Casey, she knows how to skate and stuff which is pretty cool

Matthew7: oh thats nice

Matthew7: the people in my class are kinda snobbish so its been kinda tough for me

ColdWeather: oof sorry to hear man

ColdWeather: oh wait I gotta go, I have a group project thing at like 5 ish

Matthew7: oh uh alright, have fun man

ColdWeather: yeah you too

ColdWeather is offline

• 5/9/20 • Saturday • 3.08 am •

Matthew7: hey

Matthew7: I know you're probably not awake right now

Matthew7: sorry for missing your birthday yesterday, I was really busy with school stuff and I literally just finished some homework

Matthew7: I actually wanted to surprise you by going to your school

Matthew7: happy belated birthday man

ColdWeather: mat?

Matthew7: holy shit, you're awake?

ColdWeather: haha yeag I went ouf for somee drinjs wit casee and her boyfreind

ColdWeather: her boyfriend is soooo preeyty

Matthew7: sounds like you had fun

ColdWeather: yea yeah I didd

ColdWeather: bbut I donno

ColdWeather: I wanted yyou to be here but you wenrnt

ColdWeather: and I kept thijnkinf about you :(((

Matthew7: you were?

ColdWeather: yeah!! caasye broght me back when I starrted crying about howw you wernt here :((

Matthew7 is typing...

Matthew7 is deleting...

Matthew7: hey, are you free later?

ColdWeather: yyeah probabbly

Matthew7: I'm gonna visit you since you're a little crybaby who needs to be taken care of

ColdWeather: aawwh youre coming??

Matthew7: you probably won't even remember that I said any of this

ColdWeather: hghhhhhhhhhjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj

Matthew7: oh my god you fell asleep didn't you

Matthew7: wow.

Matthew7: thats fine, you need the rest anyway

Matthew7: goodnight sage

Matthew7 is offline

[ 7.45 pm ]

ColdWeather: hey

Matthew7: yoo

ColdWeather: thanks for taking care of my hungover ass today

Matthew7: dude, if not me then who else?

ColdWeather: honestly true

ColdWeather: it was kind of weird hanging out with you and casey today

Matthew7: whys that?

ColdWeather: I don't know, like, hanging out with an old friend and a new friend was pretty trippy for me

Matthew7: yeah I can see why u'd think that :p

Matthew7: oh wait did you see my gift yet?

ColdWeather: gift?

Matthew7: I left it under your blanket looll

ColdWeather: let me check

ColdWeather: a bracelet?

Matthew7: yeah, i know youre not really a jewelry guy but idk, figured you needed some type of bling :P

ColdWeather: it has my initials on it too! dude I'm gonna wear this like everyday now

Matthew7 is typing...

Matthew7 is deleting...

Matthew7: yeah you better, I spent good money on it

Matthew7: I uh, wanted to ask you something too if thats cool

ColdWeather: yeah sure go ahead

Matthew7 is typing...

Matthew7 is deleting...

Matthew7: is it true you actually cried on your birthday cause i wasn't there?

ColdWeather: shiiiiit

ColdWeather: did casey tell you?

Matthew7: bitch you're the one who told me

ColdWeather: wait what?

ColdWeather: holy shit i did

ColdWeather: okay yeah, I'll own up to it, I cried because I kinda missed you

Matthew7: "kinda"

ColdWeather: shut up

Matthew7: well im glad we hung out today

Matthew7: you probably would've bawled your eyes out if I didn't show

ColdWeather: oh my god shut it already

Matthew7 is typing...

Matthew7 is deleting...

Matthew7: okay I gotta go, I have to do some stuff now

ColdWeather: oh, okay, good luck with that

Matthew7: see ya

Matthew7 is offline

• 30/9/20 • Wednesday • 11.29 pm •

Matthew7: sage

ColdWeather: mat

Matthew7: woah, wasn't expecting you to be awake

ColdWeather: I was actually gonna go to bed soon

Matthew7: man shut up

Matthew7: what are you doing up so late anyway?

ColdWeather: studying.

Matthew7: riiight, exams are in like a month

Matthew7: its literally just midyears tho

ColdWeather: still need to study for them, you should too

ColdWeather: why are you texting me this late by the way

Matthew7: I wanted to ask you something

ColdWeather: you can ask me tomorrow, go to sleep dude

Matthew7 is typing...

Matthew7 is deleting...

Matthew7: yeah youre probably right, I kinda forgot the question anyway lool

ColdWeather: typical mat

ColdWeather: night

Matthew7: yeah, night

Matthew7 is offline

ColdWeather is offline

• 24/10/20 • Saturday • 1.24 pm •

Matthew7: sage sage sage

ColdWeather: good afternoon to you too

Matthew7: got any cool parties youre going to for halloween??

ColdWeather: I'm like 95% sure that I'll be boxed up in my dorm studying until I die on halloween night

Matthew7: oh c'monnnnn youve worked hard enough! lets go party!!

ColdWeather: mat, as much as i would love to party, I can't. midyears are literally next month

Matthew7: dude

Matthew7: please?

Matthew7: like, I know how hard you've been working and I dunno, I thought a party might take some stress off of you

ColdWeather is typing...

ColdWeather is deleting...

ColdWeather: dammit mat

ColdWeather: you got any parties in mind?

Matthew7: hell yeah I do!!

Matthew7: there's gonna be a huge house party that some kid from my class is throwing

Matthew7: apparently its gonna be at a mansion??

ColdWeather: okay, that does sound pretty sick

Matthew7: right???

ColdWeather: send me the details

Matthew7: it'll be at thomson road street 43 at 8 pm but I'll pick you up so you don't have to worry about a ride B)

ColdWeather: oh okay, thanks man

ColdWeather: wait, do I have to dress up?

Matthew7: well duh, dude it's a halloween party

ColdWeather: uugh I'll need to think of a costume idea then

Matthew7: well in case you wanna match, I'm totally going as green lantern

ColdWeather: I am not surprised in the slightest

Matthew7: well it's not as predicable as batman so I'm pretty satisfied with my choice B)

ColdWeather: I'll probably go as the flash then

Matthew7: that would be dope as hellllll

ColdWeather: while you're here btw, you wanna hop on a game?

Matthew7: holy shit, we haven't played in like forever

ColdWeather: so are you down?

Matthew7: dude always

Matthew7: modern warfare?

ColdWeather: hell yes

• 1/11/20 • Sunday • 8.45 am •

ColdWeather: mat

ColdWeather: can we talk about last night?

[ 2.31 pm ]

ColdWeather: mat please

ColdWeather: are you okay?

[ 7.19 pm ]

ColdWeather: matthew please say something

ColdWeather: anything?

[ 9.50 pm ]

ColdWeather: do you not want to be friends anymore? is that it?

• 2/11/20 • Monday • 12.13 am •

Matthew7: I'm sorry

Matthew7: I'm really sorry sage

ColdWeather: oh my god you're alive, are you okay?

Matthew7 is typing...

Matthew7 is deleting...

Matthew7: I'm fine, I'm sorry

ColdWeather: okay, slow down, can you just explain what happened at the party?

Matthew7 is typing...

Matthew7 is deleting...

Matthew7: I don't know, I was drunk, I wasn't thinking right

ColdWeather: dude, you weren't even drunk, you barely even touched your cup

ColdWeather: if anything, I was the one who was drunk

Matthew7 is typing...

Matthew7 is deleting...

Matthew7: how much do you remember?

ColdWeather: well, I remember being with you for the majority of the night, we talked, danced and drunk with a bunch of people but you didn't drink nearly as much as me

ColdWeather: after awhile you said you were kinda tired so we went out to the top floor balcony and sat there and talked for a bit

ColdWeather: then you said that you thought you were in love with someone

ColdWeather: I asked you who it was, but you just stared back at me like you were waiting for something

ColdWeather: then you kissed me

Matthew7 is typing...

Matthew7 is deleting...

ColdWeather: I had to call casey to pick me up after you ran away

Matthew7: sorry for leaving you there

ColdWeather: dude it's fine it's just... the whole in love with me thing

ColdWeather: is that really how you feel?

ColdWeather: did you mean it?

Matthew7 is typing...

Matthew7 is deleting...

Matthew7: yes I meant every fucking word i said on that balcony

Matthew7: I have loved you ever since high school, maybe even before that

Matthew7: I thought that I just wanted to be really good friends with you but I don't know, during high school, I started to realise that I wanted more than that

Matthew7: you probably think Im a fucking creep now

ColdWeather: I don't think that at all, understand?

ColdWeather: I just need some time to think

ColdWeather: we should be asleep right now anyway, goodnight mat

ColdWeather is offline

Matthew7 is typing...

Matthew7 is deleting...

Matthew7 is offline

• 24/11/20 • Tuesday • 4.07 pm •

ColdWeather: hey

Matthew7: hi

ColdWeather: how are you dealing with midyears?

Matthew7: It's been okay

ColdWeather: that's good

Matthew7 is offline

• 4/12/20 • Friday • 8.19 pm •

Matthew7: what the fuck are you doing

ColdWeather: oh good, you texted first

Matthew7: I can see you from my window

ColdWeather: yeah, that's kinda the point

ColdWeather: now come down here and snowball fight me

Matthew7: what? why?

ColdWeather: because clearly, whatever we have going on isn't getting anywhere so the obvious solution, is a fight to the death

Matthew7: dude, we aren't in middle school anymore, go home

ColdWeather: not until I beat your ass with some snow

Matthew7 is typing...

Matthew7 is deleting...

Matthew7: fuck you

Matthew7: by the time I'm done, youre gonna be begging for mercy

ColdWeather: finally! a worthy challenger!

• 27/12/20 • Sunday • 8.12 am •

ColdWeather: hey

Matthew7: hi

ColdWeather: are you doing anything for new years?

Matthew7: I don't think so, maybe I'll go out with some friends or something but it's a strong maybe

ColdWeather: would you perhaps like to see some fireworks?

Matthew7: yeah sure, I'll have to think of some gifts for casey and her boyfriend tho

ColdWeather: oh, uh, they're not coming

Matthew7: so it'll just be us?

ColdWeather: yeah, is that cool?

Matthew7 is typing...

Matthew7 is deleting...

Matthew7: does this mean you've made up your mind?

ColdWeather: well, yes, but I wanna tell you in person

Matthew7: with a bunch of fireworks exploding in the background?

ColdWeather: yeah

Matthew7 is typing...

Matthew7 is deleting...

Matthew7: are you asking me out on a date?

ColdWeather: it'll be a date once I very romantically tell you how I feel in front of a million fireworks covering the sky

Matthew7: you are the biggest nerd I've ever met

ColdWeather: I'm glad to hear it

ColdWeather: I'll pick you up and we can go to the park to see the fireworks

Matthew7: how romantical

ColdWeather: that's not even a word

Matthew7: yeah it is, I just made it up!

ColdWeather: and you call me the nerd

Matthew7: and I stand by that

ColdWeather: whatever you dork

ColdWeather: I'll see you on new years :)

Matthew7: see you :)

Matthew7 is offline

ColdWeather is offline

#emily is away #emily is away too #emily is away <3 #mat gursky #matgursky #fanfiction

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