Take the Log Out of Your Eye

Do not judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned yourselves. For just as you judge and criticize and condemn others, you will be judged and criticized and condemned, and in accordance with the measure you [use to] deal out to others, it will be dealt out again to you. Why do you stare from without at the very small particle that is in your brother’s eye but do not become aware of and consider the beam of timber that is in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, Let me get the tiny particle out of your eye, when there is the beam of timber in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first get the beam of timber out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the tiny particle out of your brother’s eye.  Matthew 7:1-5 Amplified 

Some translations use “log” instead of “beam”…but whatever—get your act together before you try to tell someone else what to do. I grew up hearing people in our community criticized…for not paying their bills, for not raising their kids right or treating their neighbors kindly, or…whatever. Judgmental attitudes. Years ago I did puppet skits at a church we went to and one of my favorites was a sketch where the father is reading a newspaper and criticizing someone. When he puts the paper down it shows that he had a huge log sticking out of his eye. Get the log out of your eye…get your act together…straighten up and follow God’s way before you try to take a speck out of someone else’s eye to set them straight and encourage them in the Lord’s way. Can you see a speck or a log in your own eye?  

RSVP: Jesus is challenging us today to look at our own attitudes and actions. Are we judging, criticizing or condemning others? How will you respond to Him today? 

Prayer ~ Jesus, we may feel like we love You more than others…and be critical of them—like my five year old grandson—but we need to get the log out of our eye and see ourselves as You see us. Forgive us for our critical spirit. Create within us a clean heart, soul and eye that we may live in such a way that pleases and honors You. 

This is blog post #1,000. One thousand consecutive days of sitting at a Banquet With The King.

May God bless you as you read this blog…

and as you seek and serve our Lord and risen Savior, Jesus Christ.

© 2014 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.