Dear Ones,
Hope you are having a joy-filled day! Every day is a gift from the Lord. This morning I did food prep and went to Aldi’s and also watched a church service my brother gave on Sunday which was a blessing. Since Al preached most  Sundays I have rarely gotten to hear my older brother preach (YoutubeSalemChurchofDarmstadtEvansvilleIll).
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Isn’t it easy to see the faults in others but fail to see the faults in ourselves? Jesus had something to say about that when He spoke to the crowd in the Sermon on the Mount and warns us. He says in Luke 6:41-42 (ESV), “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck that is in your brother’s eye.” Mark Roberts has written about this passage on crosswalk.com and his words are helpful and challenging.  We first have to deal with our own negative stuff before we can see clearly to help another. He calls it splinter removal. If we don’t deal with our own logs, we can come across to another as prideful and self-righteous and full of envy. In fact, we have no right to deal with the splinters in others if we don’t take care of our own sins, bad habits, etc. Only after that can we see clearly to help others and do it with humility and kindness. When we have a deep loving relationship with them and share our own logs and how God has helped us, they may be more open to see the splinter in their own eyes. Roberts says to deal with one splinter at a time and not say, “Oh by the way, there are other things that you need to change!” Our motivation must be love and compassion and it is important to hang in there with them. Instead of disappearing after the splinter removal, encourage them and tell them we want the best for them and will be praying for them.
Challenge for today: Ask the Lord for help to deal with the log in your own eye and then be open to help others.
Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy