And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye. Luke 6:41-42
As I've grown in grace, I've come to perceive more clearly that the planks in my own eyes are overcome and removed by nothing less than the sufficient grace and love of God working in and through me by the Life of Jesus. As I experience this more and more, I truly do see more clearly how the whole speck-removal thing works in the lives of others.
(BTW, "Plankeye" is the name of a Christian band... I like it so thought I'd use it as the title of this post). =)
Joel love the name "Plankeye". Never heard of the group. I'll have to check them out.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about God's "Plank Removal System." The more you go through it, the less apt you are to start pointing out specks in other eyes. Something about receiving God's grace makes you more likely to give it out to those around you.
Yep indeed, Maureen, you hit the nail on the head. That's exactly what I was trying to say here. The more I see that I'm nothing apart from God's love and grace - from salvation to the smallest details of daily living - the more I see that grace and love is what I want to extend to others, no matter what their 'specks' are.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Joel, and great comment Maureen! This is the stuff that makes me keep reading blogs. I have been over that particular passage many times and heard it preached more than that, and every time it has been taught and used as a level of acheivement to be reached so that we can teach, lead, and help others with their problems (planks). I don't need help with my problems (planks) from someone who thinks theirs are all gone (unless its Christ Himself), I don't need anyones hands in my eye, I need/want to be loved, understood, and given grace. Great stuff you guys, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteRon
Yep indeed, Ron. I'm seeing increasingly more and more that while it's true that people have various things in their lives that are not helpful or beneficial to themselves or to others, what they need most is not all of their problems "fixed" but rather to be loved, embraced and accepted unconditionally. I can't say that I've "arrived" in all of this - not by any stretch of the imagination! - but through the process of growing in grace I've seen that that's what I myself have needed, and that's what God has done for me, and so that's what I want to grow in extending to others.
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