Somebody's Always Watching...

In our Sunday School class, we are studying the encounters of Christ. Each one of them take on a different meaning for the person to whom it happened and to me as I listen and read. One of my favorite encounters is something we just touched on in the end of class yesterday, the Widow's Mite. I have read and heard that story many times, but this little piece of the story didn't hit me until yesterday. The first verse, which is Mark 12:41. It states, "And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums."

The very first part of that verse says that Jesus sat down and observed people and what they were doing. Whoa! Jesus was watching people? He's a people watcher? That means he actually is watching me! Uh, I better straighten up in my chair. I need to act like I know what I am doing. I need to.be.good! That's the gut reaction, right? But if I am not doing anything wrong, why am I feeling so guilty? The world says "innocent until proven guilty," but I think most of us know that the world goes by "guilty until proven innocent." Isn't that the way we all think sometimes. We jump to conclusions, judge people without really knowing, and yet, we expect the opposite of everyone else. Shame on us!

Matthew 7:1 - 6 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ²For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. ³"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. ⁶"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces."

Let's remember these words of Jesus and make sure when we are watched, we can be calm and assured of ourselves.