Skip to main content

Log Out

    For most of us, it is so easy to look at others and see their faults. We can see the way this person is prideful or that person has a substance abuse problem, etc. When we see these things, we naturally want to fix them and bring them into the light. We think, "How do they not see this thing in their life and change it?" There is nothing wrong with helping someone to come to those realizations at the right time. However, the problem lies in the condition of our own lives. 

Matthew 7:1-5 "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.
"And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye." (NLT)

    It is human nature to want to look like we have it all together. Consequently, we try not to admit when we are struggling with something or need help in any way. I think that this is so engrained in our nature that we even fool ourselves. It can prove extremely difficult to self-evaluate. Can you be honest with yourself and see your flaws? And then actually admit them? Most people cannot. 

    Helping set things right in people's lives for Christ starts with us. We have to take care of ourselves and look into the condition of our own life before we can start really speaking truth into someone else's. Otherwise, we will be speaking through our own broken filters! Usually that does not lead to life-giving help for others. 

    I do not mean to say that we have to be perfect to help others out, but we do have to have the ability to be self-aware and honest about our own imperfections. The trouble comes when we don't realize anything is wrong with our lifestyle and blatantly continue living in darkness. When we do know our shortcomings and are actively fighting to live by the word, it is completely different. 

    Revelation of our actions comes from knowing the word and putting it into practice. Be honest with yourself today and as you read the Bible. Ask yourself if you are actually acting out the faith you claim to believe. Ask Jesus to reveal to you the areas of your life that need some work. We all have them. Ask fellow believers to help show you the path of righteousness and then aid you to stay on it. Then you will be able to more effectively help those around you to come to the same conclusions in their own life! It all starts with taking the log out of your own eye. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Seeing by Faith

    When we are trying to live by faith, the things that inhibit us are the things that are right under our noses. We are trained to live based on the things around us. We don't believe anything if we don't see proof of it. The things around us are more our reality than what we say we believe in. But the Bible tells us that we are to walk by faith and not by sight. We are to live based on what we know is truth, not by what we see.     The things we see around us distract us from the reality we should be living in. What is unseen is eternal and more important than the things of this world. We need to fix our eyes on what is lasting and know the difference. We need to be filling ourselves with the word and not the world. When we are distracted by the world, we forget the truth. We become discouraged and doubt our faith. We need to draw strength from one another so that we may run the race with endurance.     What is determining your reality today? Is i...
Post a Comment
Read more

How Firm a Foundation

Matthew 7:24-27 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” Luke 6:46-49 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pergamum

Revelation 2:13-16  “I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to me. You refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan’s city. “But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching. Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth." (NLT)     To the church in Pergamum, Jesus commends them for their faithfulness. Interesting that what He told the church in Smyrna they were doing wrong was just what those in Pergamum were doing right! They lived in an area that made it particularly difficult to stay devoted to Christ because of all the persecution, yet...
Post a Comment
Read more