Gnats and Camels

We need to make sure we don’t get our gnats and camels mixed up otherwise we will be hypocrites. What’s the big stuff that we make a little deal of and the little stuff that we make a big deal of? The great commandment and the royal law is love and yet how many times to we neglect to walk in love and still pretend to be a follower of Christ? “Mercy triumphs over judgment” and we’re so glad that the Lord is merciful to us but are we merciful to others? - Because “judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.” We say that we want justice and yet we don’t want to be held accountable for what we do. Mercy for us, judgment for others seems to be a popular “Christian” mentality these days. And what’s the expression of our faith? Can we say that we believe and trust in God and then squall like a mashed cat every time a new crisis comes down the pike? God is greater than all that and if we truly trust Him then why don’t we just go on preaching the gospel not criticizing and complaining about the circumstances? I’m not saying that we shouldn’t do something about it. But act like God and not like the world is what we’re supposed to do. (Eph 5:1) And how’s our heart? We may look alright on the outside but the temptation is to hold anger, strife, bitterness and unforgiveness in our heart. There’s always some group of “Christians” who are mad about what someone is doing or not doing but doesn’t the Bible still say, “This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” We’re called to be glad not mad and to keep our eyes on our Dad and not what’s bad. I’m just saying that if we want to call ourselves disciples then we shouldn’t look like a bunch of anacondas with camels stuck in our throats. And I’m praying that we will be the way God intended for us to be so that the world can see the light of those who continue to carry and preach the good news of the gospel!

Matt 23:23-26
23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
NKJV

James 2:8-13
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well; 9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
NKJV

James 3:13-18
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
NKJV

James 3:16
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
KJV

Matt 5:13-16
"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
NKJV