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Planks and Specks

 Planks and specks

Matt 7:1-5.
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Many of us focus too much on verses 1-2 and end up missing the point of 3-5. Whenever you notice something in someone else’s life that is off it usually is because this is or has been in your life. Kind recognizes kind.
For example it is easy for me to recognize even the slightest bit of pride issues in someone else because pride has been a huge issue in my life.
The heart of Jesus in these verses is that first we examine and deal with our own issues. Once we have done this we are now able to help someone else. If you have ever had something in your eye you know the pain of it regardless of how large it maybe. Therefore when you help another with getting something out of their eye you do it with the compassion and understanding of one who has experienced the same discomfort.
With sin issues in other people we don’t ignore it but we also don’t come at them with condemnation, harshness nor a superior attitude. No we come as those who have always struggled with sin and have received the grace and mercy of God. We show this to others because we know that the speck of sin in their lives is causing them pain and harm. To simply ignore it would be just as bad as condemning judgement.
So the next time you see sin in someone else first do a self examination and deal with any of that sin in you and then go in love under the leadership of the Spirit and help the other. Sometimes it is directly confronting the sin and other times it is praying for them concerning the sin. Being led by Holy Spirit is the way to know which choice to make.

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