Day 85 · Helping Others Follow Christ · (NET2)
Jesus warns about blind guides, hypocrisy, and words disconnected from obedience. Before correcting another person, we must face what is wrong in our own life. The final picture contrasts hearing and doing with hearing alone. Helping others follow Christ includes honest self-examination and a life increasingly built on his words. We need not be flawless, but we must remain teachable.
Request
Jesus, expose hypocrisy in me and help me build my life on your words. Amen.
Read
39 He also told them a parable: “Someone who is blind cannot lead another who is blind, can he? Won’t they both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not greater than his teacher, but everyone when fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to see the beam of wood in your own? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck from your eye,’ while you yourself don’t see the beam in your own? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
43 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from brambles. 45 The good person out of the good treasury of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasury produces evil, for his mouth speaks from what fills his heart.
46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do what I tell you?
47 “Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and puts them into practice —I will show you what he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on bedrock. When a flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built. 49 But the person who hears and does not put my words into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against that house, it collapsed immediately and was utterly destroyed!”
Scripture: NET Bible, Second Edition (NET2).
Reflect
- How do the images of the eye, tree, and house challenge a would-be teacher?
- What instruction of Jesus do you need to practice before urging it on someone else?
Restate
Explain the difference between being an imperfect example and refusing correction.
Respond
Let the passage guide your prayer. Use these prompts in your own words:
- Praise: Praise Jesus for words that provide a firm foundation.
- Thanksgiving: Thank him for patient correction.
- Confession: Confess a gap between your advice and your practice.
- Intercession: Pray for people influenced by your example.
- Petition: Ask for humility and concrete obedience.
Carry it into today: Act on one instruction you have recently encouraged someone else to follow.