I got really angry with a man who was spreading a horrible lie about me. What made me especially indignant was that the lie he was telling about me was something HE had a reputation for doing. It was a terrible slander. I felt fully justified in my hot anger against him! After all, this was MY reputation and I have children who, if this got back to them—would be hurt by this false accusation. But—what a great lesson God taught me from this experience.
As I read the following words of Jesus, God reminded me WHY I reacted in such outrage and anger:
“For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 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?“
Matthew 7:2-3
We are very quick to recognize the specks of sawdust in the eyes of others because they are made out of the same wood as our own plank!
We are quick to judge in those areas where we fail the most. If we are liars, we suspect everyone is lying; if we are a thief, we suspect everyone is stealing! And If we are lazy, we are quick to accuse someone else of laziness. This man had a reputation for doing the very thing of which he wrongfully accused me of. So any of my actions that remotely reminded him of his own proclivities, naturally sparked an accusation against me.
We know our own sin and weaknesses so well that we are quick to recognize them in someone else!
While I didn’t like being wrongfully accused, this experience forced me to examine if I am quick to judge others in areas where I fail instead of—showing the same grace and mercy towards them—God has given to me. Sometimes we all just need to be reminded of where we came from. Jesus was reminding us that we are all made from the same wood. The speck and the plank both represent the common condition of the human heart—we’re ALL desperately needy sinners. (Romans 3:23)
ALL sin comes from the same wooden plank that hung Jesus to die.
When I think that it was MY sin that crucified Jesus—it humbles me. Because He loved me so much, He willingly died to ransom my soul. He did the same for everyone—including those who have offended me. When our heart truly belongs to Christ, we recognize the amazing grace we’ve been given and we’re able to give grace to our offenders.
When the weight of God’s mercy penetrates my soul, His grace silences my accusations against another.
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4 Responses
May I simply say what a relief to uncover somebody that really understands what theyre discussing over the internet. You certainly know how to bring a problem to light and make it important. More and more people really need to check this out and understand this side of the story. I was surprised that youre not more popular because you certainly have the gift.
Blessings and praise to God!
~Kimberly
I was getting your devotionals at first but they have not been coming for about a week. Please it to me. I apparently you and you ministry. Praying for you and your ministry ever day!
Love & Blessings,
Lisa (my friends call me by my middle name)
Hi Lisa. I’m so sorry. You should be able to subscribe to the emails on the devotional page. We just changed website hosts and we’re trying to get all the moving parts worked out! Thank you for your patience.
Blessings,
Kimberly