"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly..." - Colossians 3:16
"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? 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? 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." - Matthew 7:3-5
I am still embarassed every time a friend points out that my fly is down or I have left the price tag on my new shorts. However, I am grateful every time a friend does, for it saves me from additional embarassment. The law of God is difficult to look at because we see the faults in our lives. It is a priceless tool used to remind us that we don't have what it takes to do battle with the enemy on our own.
There is good news, now that we know what we are dealing with! Only after that self reflection and realization can we begin to start doing something about it! A real friend is willing to take the risk of pointing out a flaw to you in order to save you from your blind spots.
Dear Lord, when someone shows me a spiritual flaw, please help me to react thankfully, and not defensively. Give me the courage to listen, repent and come to You for the strength needed to remove this plank from my eye. Amen.
Courage alone isn't enough. I agree with Tom that humility and wisdom are also required, since we could easily be guilty of "plank eye" hypocrisy.
The statement "Only after [that] self reflection and realization..." really brings home for me the need for (as Luther instructed) daily self-reflection, contrition and repentance.
Assuming few of us are prepared to stick our necks out to confront the sin in our friends' lives, it is certainly the right time to confront it in our own lives.
Our home group spent about an hour on this exact topic. We concluded; That while it is hard to be confronted, it often requires more courage to confront. One member of our group has been estranged from a former friend and co-worker because her position required her to confront him about his behavior. We prayed the friend would come to accept the correction and forgive the corrector. It is hard to "Speak the truth in love" and to hear the truth. We prayed for humility, courage and wisdom.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this devotional. May God Bless your study of His Word in this Alive in Jesus study.
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