Blog
We sat down at the table and after our prayer, I saw a little hand reach for a chip.
A hand that was covered in dirt.
“Didn’t I tell you to wash your hands?”, I said to my then 6 year old nephew.
“I did.”
“Well, not good enough it looks like. Hold up your hands.” We both got a good look at them and then he hung his head in shame.
“I’ll go wash them again.”
We headed for the bathroom, he climbed on the stool and I turned on the faucet. I reached for the soap to squirt in his hands, and that’s when we saw it.
We both stopped, locked eyes on each other and then the truth was spoken more clearer than it’s ever been.
“Cookie, you sure have room to talk!”
I was caught “dirty-handed”.
In all of my effort to make sure he was clean and ready for lunch, I had disregarded my own need to clean-up.
I was far too focused on his mistakes than my own.
“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.”
Luke 6:41-42
Sometimes even the easiest lessons can be the hardest to learn. Far too often, we are focused on the mistakes and sins of others that we don’t even recognize our own need of repentance. Jesus warned the people of hypocrisy and encouraged them to be good examples to follow.
What’s really interesting, or maybe even sad, is that we point out the sins in others that we struggle with the most. Maybe it’s in an effort to deflect the attention or guilt in our conscience away from us. What is it that you’ve been noticing in others? Is it something that you need to work on in your own life?
Let’s examine our hearts this morning like the Psalmist says.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Psalm 139:23-24
Copyright © 2022 by Yalanda Merrell Lifeword.org. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from Lifeword.org