Welcome to Lectio for Families. We are continuing our ‘Jesus Speaks’ series, and this week we are exploring Jesus’ commands, the things that He asks us to obey and how they help us love and know Him more.

As usual, each day we will simply pray (P.R.A.Y.) together.
P: PAUSING to be still.
R: REJOICING with a Memory Verse and REFLECTING on some verses from the Bible.
A: ASKING God to help us and others.
Y: saying YES to God’s ways.

Pause

We start by pausing and taking a deep breath:

In and out.

In and out.

We remember that God is here, and so together we prepare ourselves to be with God.

Pause

Prayer of Welcome

Jesus, we want to know You more and we want to better understand the way You want us to live. As we consider Your commands, we prepare our hearts to follow You.

Rejoice

Memory Verse

We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:

God, help us to remember Your Word.

Reflect

Bible Reading

Today, we’re REFLECTING on a part of Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount where He teaches people how to live well.

Read by Hubo
Matthew 7:1-3 
[Jesus said] ‘Don’t judge others, or you will be judged. You will be judged in the same way that you judge others, and the amount you give to others will be given to you. Why do you notice the little piece of dust in your friend’s eye, but you don’t notice the big piece of wood in your own eye?’
Matthew 7:1-3 (NCV)

Jesus uses a ridiculous example to explain something very simple – how can we possibly pick a speck of dust out of someone else’s eye when we’ve got a huge stick in our own?

What Jesus means is that instead of focusing on other people’s faults or pointing out what they are doing wrong, we should focus on ourselves – we should make sure we are doing what is right first.

Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What’s the most ridiculous thing we’ve seen or heard recently? 

• PAUSE the audio player now

Ask

ASK Prayers

Let’s close our eyes for a moment and ASK Jesus if we’ve got any ‘sticks in our eyes’ – things that we’ve done or said that have hurt us and others.

Lord Jesus, we’re sorry. We ASK You to forgive us, and to remove the sticks from our eyes so that we can see You, and see others more clearly.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Jesus says, ‘Don’t judge others.’ When we focus on other people’s faults we’re judging them. Let’s be quiet for a moment and be honest with ourselves – who have we judged this week?

Lord God, the Bible says that You are a merciful judge. We admit that we’re quick to judge, and we’re not very merciful. We ASK You to help us be more merciful towards others. And we pray for those we know who are having a hard time getting along with one another – help them to be merciful too.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Yes

Bible Reading

As we read the Bible again, let’s listen for a word or a phrase that the Holy Spirit might want to say to us from today’s verses.

Matthew 7:1-3 
[Jesus said] ‘Don’t judge others, or you will be judged. You will be judged in the same way that you judge others, and the amount you give to others will be given to you. Why do you notice the little piece of dust in your friend’s eye, but you don’t notice the big piece of wood in your own eye?’
Matthew 7:1-3 (NCV)

What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and tell each other

YES Prayer

And now, let’s say YES to God together.

Jesus, we say NO to judging others, and we say YES to being merciful and kind instead.

Memory Verse

After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:

Closing Prayer

Let’s put a hand on our heart.
Father God, fill us with Your love. Help us to love You, and everything that You’ve made.

Let’s point to our eyes.
Lord Jesus, help us to see You, and to see others the way that You see them too.

Let’s point to our ears.
Holy Spirit, help us to hear You, and give us courage to do what You say.