- Joined
- Feb 9, 2004
- Messages
- 17,077
Removing Eye Specks - June 23, 2007
"If I was a single parent, I'd do much better for my child than that woman has done for hers!" boasted Joyce, a tough as nails woman in her mid-sixties. "But then again, what do you expect from a divorcee? " she continued.
The comments should have shocked Eileen, her neighbor, but after twenty years of living side by side, Eileen was used to Joyce's negative rants and blatant insensitivity.
"I recall the first time I met Joyce," recalls Eileen. "She had just moved into the neighborhood and I went to her home to welcome her. She whined the whole time; telling me what she didn't like about these people, or what irritated her about those people. I have never met someone who had so little empathy."
Real life application: Unfortunately, there a lot of people like Joyce around; some who even claim to be Christians. Perhaps at times, even you or I may sound like Joyce; pointing a finger at those individuals who we believe are not as good as us for one reason or another. Maybe they have a problem with alcohol or drugs. Or maybe they have made some mistakes in their past which they repented of, but they are still facing the consequences of their former poor choices.
In the Bible, Jesus Christ, the son of God, had something to say about such people who would go around finding flaws in others while paying no attention to their own. In essence, He said that before we point a guilty finger at others, we should first look within our own lives because, while we may be worrying about a spec in our neighbors eye, we ourselves may have a beam in our own!
"Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye."-Matthew 7: 3-5
My dear friend, are we really that much better than the people we go about condemning? The Bible says that we ALL have sinned and fallen short, and that NO man is truly righteous of his own accord, and that it is only by the grace of God that we, His children, are saved.
"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
The next time you want to look down upon a dirty homeless man begging in the street, or pointing an accusatory finger at the divorcee who is struggling to raise her child alone, remember that God is willing to be gracious and compassionate to you, and perhaps, it would suit us better to follow His lead so we can truly be living examples of His word.
"In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets."-Matthew 7:12
Contributed by Melanie Schurr (Copyright (c)2005 Melanie Schurr) Melanie Schurr is author of "Ecstatic Living: A Christian marriage manual and Life-guide", "Son Salutations" and "Daily Contemplations", a collection of read-one-a-day modern inspirations. For more information, visit melanieschurr.com - Home
"If I was a single parent, I'd do much better for my child than that woman has done for hers!" boasted Joyce, a tough as nails woman in her mid-sixties. "But then again, what do you expect from a divorcee? " she continued.
The comments should have shocked Eileen, her neighbor, but after twenty years of living side by side, Eileen was used to Joyce's negative rants and blatant insensitivity.
"I recall the first time I met Joyce," recalls Eileen. "She had just moved into the neighborhood and I went to her home to welcome her. She whined the whole time; telling me what she didn't like about these people, or what irritated her about those people. I have never met someone who had so little empathy."
Real life application: Unfortunately, there a lot of people like Joyce around; some who even claim to be Christians. Perhaps at times, even you or I may sound like Joyce; pointing a finger at those individuals who we believe are not as good as us for one reason or another. Maybe they have a problem with alcohol or drugs. Or maybe they have made some mistakes in their past which they repented of, but they are still facing the consequences of their former poor choices.
In the Bible, Jesus Christ, the son of God, had something to say about such people who would go around finding flaws in others while paying no attention to their own. In essence, He said that before we point a guilty finger at others, we should first look within our own lives because, while we may be worrying about a spec in our neighbors eye, we ourselves may have a beam in our own!
"Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye."-Matthew 7: 3-5
My dear friend, are we really that much better than the people we go about condemning? The Bible says that we ALL have sinned and fallen short, and that NO man is truly righteous of his own accord, and that it is only by the grace of God that we, His children, are saved.
"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
The next time you want to look down upon a dirty homeless man begging in the street, or pointing an accusatory finger at the divorcee who is struggling to raise her child alone, remember that God is willing to be gracious and compassionate to you, and perhaps, it would suit us better to follow His lead so we can truly be living examples of His word.
"In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets."-Matthew 7:12
Contributed by Melanie Schurr (Copyright (c)2005 Melanie Schurr) Melanie Schurr is author of "Ecstatic Living: A Christian marriage manual and Life-guide", "Son Salutations" and "Daily Contemplations", a collection of read-one-a-day modern inspirations. For more information, visit melanieschurr.com - Home
