Thursday, April 30, 2009

Walking The Plank


Matthew 7:3-5

3 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

Probably like most of you, I've read this section of Matthew and thought it makes a great example of how we shouldn't judge others. And probably like most of you I've recalled these three verses mostly at a time in my life when someone was either judging me or when I was judging someone else.

If you fall into either of these categories then you probably like this scripture. I used to like it too, until I decided to walk the plank...

You see, I've been walking with the Lord for about 9 years now and in all that time I never really closely examined what the Lord was saying to me in Matthew 7:3-5. It didn't occur to me until this morning that I needed to walk the plank.

So I am. And I'm not liking what I see.

For too long I've been judging the "specks of sawdust" in the eyes of those all around me and failing to heed the Lords call to examine my own plank. I'm doing that now, and my plank is larger than I realized.

I'm not liking this. Not at all. But maybe it's finally the answer to growing through this dry season and funk I've been in lately.

I've been looking at all the little things that are wrong with other people and failing to look at all the issues I have in my own walk.

I'm taking a stand. I'm walking the plank. I'm going to take my time and pick it apart piece-by-piece. I may not like it or enjoy the process but I can't ignore this scripture any longer. Especially now that I have a new perspective on it.

I'm walking the plank.

Care to join me?

3 comments:

  1. I dont need to walk the plank... I'm perfect how I am!

    *NOTE - SERIOUS SARCASM BEING USED THERE!!!!

    But I think thats a good point - I think we are all guilty of pointing fingers instead of looking at ourselves

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  2. great post! it really made me think about that. walking the plank...
    we are always so quick to point the finger at others. judging and all.....
    i guess that's human nature. a little off topic: i hope that i can build a better relationship with god...
    i think it would help me to see things much more clearly. when i put my problems in his hands, things seem to be so much better for me.

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  3. Kacy - good for you to want to grow your relationship with the Lord! Things will be much better for you!

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