“Don’t Look Down on Others”

B I B L E B I T S & B I T E S
Devotional Activities for Families – Week of June 12-18, 2022

2022 Theme: “Doing Life with Jesus”
Week 23: “Don’t Look Down on Others”
Weekly Bible Bite: Matthew 7:1-5

Video lesson:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNmPR_oVo1g (Cornerstone Kids – Don’t Judge)

It is really easy for us to see other people’s faults, but especially difficult to see our own. Sometimes what we need is a really good mirror…which is exactly what the Bible can be for us as Christians. Instead of focusing on the problems other people have, we should first examine ourselves. Am I becoming more like Jesus? Can others see God’s fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, kindness, faithfulness and self-control in me?

Before I condemn someone for a bad attitude or rude behaviour or of being lazy or of anything else I find irritating, I need to take a good hard look at myself. If I discover I have areas to work on (and believe me…we all have areas to work on), I really need to begin correcting my own life before I think I can correct another. And when someone does need my help seeing something that isn’t good in their lives, I really need to do so humbly, kindly and gently. I’m not perfect and should not pretend to be.

When Jesus tells us not to judge, he is telling us not to look down on others. We are no better than anyone else. And if I can remember that, someone may be more willing to accept my help, knowing that I really do want to help and don’t simply think I’m better than they are.

Family goal:
Can you identify an area that you need God to help you improve in? What will you do to begin to make the necessary changes?
[Be sure to pick a measurable goal involving a task so that children will know when they have completed it.]

Weekly verses:
Galatians 6:1-3, NLT – “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.”

Family activities:
• Colour the picture and complete the word search.
• Can you find a helpful verse about judging from the Bible? Why not memorize it together as a family?

Prayer:
Thank you, God that no matter how I mess up, you are willing to forgive me. Help me to remember that you feel that same way about everyone. My job isn’t to judge and look down on others, it is to help them and to allow them to help me learn to love and obey you better.