Devotional -

The Straw and the Plank ( 8 January )

About this Devotional
Jesus told them this parable: "One blind man cannot lead another one; if he does, both will fall into a ditch. No pupils are greater than their teacher; but all pupils, when they have completed their training, will be like their teacher. "Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but pay no attention to the log in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Please, brother, let me take that speck out of your eye,' yet cannot even see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will be able to see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. "A healthy tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a poor tree bear good fruit. Every tree is known by the fruit it bears; you do not pick figs from thorn bushes or gather grapes from bramble bushes. A good person brings good out of the treasure of good things in his heart; a bad person brings bad out of his treasure of bad things. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
Luke 6:39-45

A Persian author wrote: "It used to be my habit to wake up in the middle of the night to pray and read God's book. One night while I was sitting worshiping, my father, who was a righteous man, woke up. I said to him, 'Look! Your sons are fast asleep, and only I am praying and worshiping God.' He answered: 'My son, it is far better for you to close your eyes and sleep than to open them only so you can count the mistakes of your brothers.'"

We human beings are very good at judging others and criticizing them. That is why Jesus warns us to look first at ourselves before pointing our fingers at those around us. If I do not take care of my own mistakes first, I can have no potential to minister to others.

I often close my eyes to my own shortcomings and weaknesses but have them wide open to point out the shortcomings and weaknesses of those around me. I use a magnifying glass both to see my areas of strength and to identify the weaknesses of others. What is more, I tend to overlook both my own weaknesses and the strong assets of other people.

Jesus wants us to get ourselves in order. He wants us to cast away any looks that are not fitting for the sons of God. Moreover, he wants us to ask him to enable us to see others in a better way.

"Do you, my friend, pass judgment on others? You have no excuse at all, whoever you are. For when you judge others and then do the same things which they do, you condemn yourself." (Romans 2:1)

- 8 JANUARY -