Day 101 "First, Remove The Plank From Your Own Eye"

What do you see when you look at yourself in the mirror? Yep, you don't see others. God gives us some good wisdom when it comes to our tendency to want to judge and be critical of other people:

“Why do you look at the speck of saw dust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? (Matthew 7:3)

Think of the magnitude and implication of what Jesus was trying to say when he used the imagery of a plank compared to a speck of sawdust.

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matthew 7:1

God's word was giving to us to let us know about him and to see ourselves as God sees us. God's word is liken to a mirror for us. As we look into it, we see the true reflection of our heart. God desires for our heart to become like his heart.

"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

But this instruction to search out the condition of our heart comes with a warning:

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.  Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom,and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

It only makes sense to take care of one's own affairs, first, tending to the condition of our own heart before attempting to care about the hearts of others. Only when our hearts have been seasoned and purified by love, will our motives be pure enough to help others with the management of their hearts. And that is done, by pointing someone to in the direction of Jesus. That, my friend, is love!

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"Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all? The answer is a resounding, "Jesus!" Jesus is the great equalizer for all of us.

In his love, I will be back here tomorrow.

"Carpe Momentum in Love" (Seize the moment in love)