Daily Devotional – Saturday, November 6, 2021
And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?
Matthew 7:3 (NKJV)
Have you ever caught yourself taking to yourself? Strange, yeah? I mean, do you hear a voice telling you, ‘but you are not that good either’, after you have criticized another person? I believe we need to hear this voice more often.
An interesting aspect of Jesus’s teaching was the spiritual application of the Ten Commandments. For example, if one looks a woman lustfully, he had already committed adultery with her. He was not caught in the act. Nobody read his thoughts, but he broke the law.
When we realize that God judges the motives as well as the actions, we will heed the admonition of the Lord, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2).
They say that when you point the index finger in accusation against another person, the other four fingers point back at you, implying you could be guiltier than the other party. In other words, examine yourself to see your role before condemning others.
Jesus added:
And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:3-5).
If we looked more into ourselves, we would realize how sinful we are and would be reluctant to condemn others. We would realize that our sins are just different or less known but still detestable before God.
If we concentrated on our character transformation, by God’s grace, we would have no time to point out the faults of others. There would be less criticism, ridicule and gossip and more empathy.
What is the log you need to remove from your eye today?
Heavenly Father, teach me the art of self-examination. Make me more empathetic towards others.
