nit pickin gnats and camel swallowin

Have you seen the pompous ones?   You know the ones, they trample on the heads of others as they climb the tower of self righteousness?  They raise high their Look-at-how-good-I-am flag, by pointing out the faults of others.  These are the ones Jesus said, "you clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self indulgence."  (mt 2:25).     He further declared their piggish ways when he stated, "You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel." (vs24).

Perhaps the pompous pigs have pointed their hooves at you?  They nit pick about our littlest short comings:  OOOOhh, I heard him swear."  They tattle, "Look at him, he just did x, y or z!"  (sorry little last letter variables to represent our missdoing)  These pigs point out the fault and failures of others as they self righteously ignore their own pride and arrogance.  They have pushed people away from the kingdom of God for far too long.   Pushing away the hurting is perhaps a much larger shortcoming.  Stinkin' CAMEL swallowers.  They eat their camels and cry about our little gnats.

Maybe you have been at the "shut out" side, where the self righteous ones declare, "You do not fit."  They say, "You're not good enough for us."  They proclaim rules and limits that "shut out" the hurting and exalt themselves.  The truth is:  the way to a right relationship with God was made through Jesus, you are good enough, you fit in and the arms of God are open wide for you.

To the pompous ones, Jesus said, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!  You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces." (vs 13)  The way to the kingdom of God has been made possible for all.  If you have felt shut out, come on in.  Welcome!  He paid the price for all to come in.  He made the way and declared the price paid when He cried out, "It is finished!"  Don't let the gnat nit pickin' camel swallowin' pigs push you away from His incredible love and grace.

If you have been nit pickin the little gnats of others and sitting back swallowin your big camel....   Woe!  Don't be pig!