Simply Soul Searching

THE ‘LET’ OF LENT – Wednesday, March 24th

Read Galatians 6:7-9.

So let us not grow weary in doing what is right,
for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9 (NRSV)

Sydney Harris was my favorite newspaper columnist when I was a young adult. I have an old book that contains the best of his “Strictly Personal” columns, but I treasure one particular story:

“I walked with my friend, a Quaker, to the newsstand the other night, and he bought a paper, thanking the newsie politely. The newsie didn’t even acknowledge it.
“A sullen fellow, isn’t he? I commented. “Oh, he’s that way every night,” shrugged my friend. “Then why do you continue being polite to him?” I asked. “Why not?” inquired my friend. “Why should I let him decide how I’m going to act?”
As I thought about this little incident later, it occurred to me that the operating word was “act.” My friend acts toward people; most of us react toward them. He has a sense of inner balance lacking in most of us frail and uncertain creatures: he knows who he is, what he stands for, and how he should behave…¹

I imagine we have all asked ourselves at least once, “Why do I even bother?” We enthusiastically teach a class, then at the end of the year discover how little the students learned (or cared). We keep offering to help a neighbor, but our help is never accepted. We ask for forgiveness but receive only silence. We long to befriend someone but it is not returned. We clean up trash along our road, but soon more trash reappears. We do our best to bring good to our corner of the world, but see no lasting results. Are we making any difference at all?

But Jim has a similar story with a different ending. On his early morning walks, he greets a gentleman who sits in the low light of dawn to have a cigarette. For over a year, the man had never replied, but Jim continued to be friendly. Then one day, the man returned the greeting! Since then, the gentleman has introduced himself – and his wife – to both of us! A new friendship has been formed.

Let us not grow weary in doing what is right. Let us keep doing all the good and right things we can, leaving the results to God. Let us keep doing what is right through our calling and our desire to become more Christlike – even if for that reason alone. We may never know what good might come when we do what is right, but we are blessed in the doing, in the integrity of spirit that comes from living this way.

And Jesus will help us to not grow weary. Hebrews 12:3 reminds us to Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart. Jesus knows how we feel. Jesus has experienced frustrations, futility, and even hostility for doing what is right. We are in good company with the one who can help us endure and continue.

~~~~~

May we not grow weary in doing what is right, but ask the Spirit to help us persevere, trust that Jesus goes with us, and let every action demonstrate our gratitude to God.

~~~~~

Our readings for tomorrow are 1 John 3:18 and 4:7, 1 Corinthians 16:14.

¹Harris, Sydney J. The Best of Sydney J. Harris. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1976. Print.

Photo by Wan Chen on Unsplash

Bible verses found at https://classic.biblegateway.com

THE ‘LET’ OF LENT – Tuesday, March 23rd

Read Philippians 2:1-11 and 4:5.

Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus…
Philippians 2:4-5 (NRSV)

Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
Philippians 4:5 (NRSV)

To gentleness belongs ability to bear reproaches and slights with moderation,
and not to embark on revenge quickly, and not to be easily provoked to anger,
but free from bitterness and contentiousness, having tranquility and stability in the spirit.
~ Aristotle

Today our spiritual invitation is to Let our gentleness be known to everyone. Gentleness is a sensitivity of disposition and kindness of behavior, founded on strength and prompted by love.¹ Why is our gentleness essential as we seek to show and share the love of Christ Jesus?

Gentleness is not timidity or weakness; gentleness is built on inner strength and love. Our gentleness comes from centering ourselves in God, trusting we are infinitely beloved, and finding an inner strength to withstand hostility, insults, criticisms, or blame from others. When we are wounded, we need the strength of the Spirit to keep from wounding back; to respond instead with grace, mercy, and dignity. Gentleness is choosing to act with the “sensitivity of disposition and kindness of behavior” that comes from our love for God and humanity.

The gentleness of Jesus in the Philippians 2 passage helps us understand why he was so compelling – why people were willing to drop everything and follow him. Jesus emptied himself, looked to the interests of others, and only sought to humbly and obediently serve God and God’s people. This sense of gentleness and acceptance in his presence certainly beckoned people to come and follow him.

Today I fondly recall a small chapel on the campus of Lourdes University, a Franciscan university sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio. Portiuncula Chapel is modeled after the 12th century chapel in Assisi, Italy, in which Francis received his first followers. When Jim and I lived in the area, we loved to go to the chapel for prayer and reflection.

The quiet chapel rests at the back of the campus, humbly welcoming guests to come inside and pray, light a candle, kneel at the altar rail, or sit and reflect. As soon as we entered the door, we were embraced by a warm, sacred, cloistered atmosphere. We were comforted by the soft fragrance of burning candles. We were hushed by the dim glow of lamplight and the reverence of lingering prayers from those who had been there before us. I have found that even without intentional prayer, my time in the chapel brought great peace and stillness to my soul.

When we are gentle in spirit, we become like this chapel – a haven of peace and stillness. Our gentleness makes us more approachable, less intimidating. Those who have been wounded themselves will find in us a safe sanctuary where they are received with kindness and invited to drop their burdens. Standing in the strength of God, we become both the refuge and the open door. In us, people will see the Christ who welcomes them in, embraces them in warmth, comforts their wounds, and provides sanctuary for their souls.

~~~~~

May we Let our gentleness be known to everyone, as we trust that Christ Jesus warmly welcomes us into his presence and grace. Our Lord is near.

~~~~~

Our reading for tomorrow is Galatians 6:7-9.

¹Gentleness Definition and Meaning – Bible Dictionary (biblestudytools.com)

Photo by Reign Abarintos on Unsplash

Bible verses found at https://classic.biblegateway.com

THE ‘LET’ OF LENT – Monday, March 22nd

Read Ephesians 4:22-32.

Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger…
Ephesians 4:26

I wish I could wrap up all my concerns at the end of the day and place them into God’s care. I would sleep much more soundly, wouldn’t you? God also wants this for us. All through the Bible we are invited to trust God instead of holding on to worry, fear, guilt, resentment, or yes, anger. These issues are hurtful to others, but they hurt our own souls as well. God is ready to help us with our anger and other provocations.

What an inspirational message this chapter from Ephesians holds for us! Our spiritual invitation for today is “do not let the sun go down on our anger,” but there are three other LET verses that clearly contribute to this instruction. Let’s look at the other Let verses in this passage for some other helpful suggestions. We will also look at the helpful verses Paul then uses to close out the passage.

~ So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another (verse 25). 

Today I am moved by the word, “speak” in this verse. There have been a few times when I have shared concerns or dismay with another person through a text, note, or an email. Seldom has this communication gone very well. It takes courage to speak directly with someone about a disagreement or an issue, but when we share an honest and humble conversation, take time to listen and clarify, watch facial expressions and nonverbal gestures, we communicate so much better! And if we can hold this posture of “we are members of one another” we can approach our disagreements with mutual love and willingness to work together.

~ Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil (verses 26-27). 

Jesus was angry at times. We also can claim that righteous anger to stand against wrongdoing, oppose injustice, or fight oppression. We are right to be angry when we have been hurt or mistreated. This verse reminds us though, that we are not to cling to our anger. When we do, we “make room for the devil.” When we cling, we allow ourselves time to fester, then plot a retaliation, think of a perfect retort, or decide to have nothing more to do with someone. When I hang on to anger, my soul becomes more distraught, my wounds grow deeper, and my recollection of the hurt becomes exaggerated. Today we are reminded to address and work to resolve our anger as soon as we can.

~ Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy (verse 28). 

I can easily assume that those of you who are reading this today do not steal. You probably strive to work for an honest living and to share with the needy. But as we consider this verse for our own instruction, we know that some thievery occurs as people struggle to survive without the opportunity for decent education or employment. I wonder how much anger and resentment could be diminished – in both the thief and the victim – if we all worked for the betterment of one another.

~ Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear (verse 29).

Words have an incredible power to hurt. I imagine we all have heard words that we will never forget – words that have pierced our souls and left sensitive scars. May we ask the Spirit to guard our tongues, to pause our replies, and to grace us with mercy, compassion, and tenderness in our thoughts and words. May our words heal rather than wound, comfort rather than harm, soothe rather than irritate.

~~~~~

Finally, may we let the Spirit guide us to: Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you (verses 31-32). Amen. May this be so.

~~~~~

Our reading for tomorrow will be Philippians 2:1-11; 4:5.

Photo by Karen at Ft. Myers Beach, FL

Bible verses taken from https://classic.biblegateway.com/

THE ‘LET’ OF LENT – Friday, March 19th

So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all,
and especially for those of the family of faith.
Galatians 6:10 (NRSV)

Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
Romans 14:19 (NRSV)

What should be done then, my friends?
When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. 
Let all things be done for building up.
1 Corinthians 14:26 (NRSV)

These three verses are all parts of larger passages that describe how we are to build up one another. In Galatians, Paul is instructing the people (and us) to help one another especially in times of trial or sin – to not judge, to be gentle with our words, to regard ourselves with humility, to bear one another’s burdens. Romans 14 addresses the issue at that time of what food was acceptable to eat – what was forbidden and what was holy. Paul tells us not to judge others by what they eat, not to cause another to stumble, and to remember that the kingdom is more than food or drink; the kingdom is righteousness and peace (17). And in 1 Corinthians, he is actually talking about the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues but also warning of its shortcomings. He invites us all to share our unique spiritual gifts and together, build up one another.

Our spiritual invitation for today then is to Let us build up one another. I don’t find this very timely for today, do you? 😉 Dear goodness, we can so easily become divisive over any number of issues in which we disagree! I am a bit relieved and comforted to know that people were divisive back in Paul’s time as well.

Perhaps it is human nature, but we know it is not the nature of Christ Jesus. As his followers, we are called to a higher nature. We are called to build up one another – even when we disagree. We are meant to live as a faithful community of people who love, uplift, and regard one another in such a way that others will be drawn to Jesus. How might we do so?

Paul gives us several instructions to help foster our mutual upbuilding. We are to be gentle, humble, gracious, compassionate. We are to pursue and regard the gifts of the kingdom over the laws of the religious. We are to share what will bless and not burden. All of these have a connecting quality – that we see one another as equals; equally broken, equally blessed, equally beloved. We will all stumble at one time or another. We will all need a helping hand. Let us offer the good help, the uplifting word, the tender kindness when we can.

~~~~~

May God let us build up one another today. May we refrain from judgment or ridicule, and strive for grace and compassion. May we refrain from petty quarrels, and strive for the joy of the kingdom. May we refrain from reacting in anger, and strive to speak the truth in love.

~~~~~

Our reading for Monday will be Ephesians 4:22-32.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Bible verses taken from https://classic.biblegateway.com/

THE ‘LET’ OF LENT – Wednesday, March 17th

Read Luke 5:1-11.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,
“Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”
Luke 5:4 (NRSV)

Today, we are invited to Let down our nets for a catch. We are invited to spread our souls out and let God fill them with all good things… except we are not to cast them into our usual places. We may be even invited to put out into deeper water. Where might Jesus be calling us to drop our nets? What new and surprising places might he have in mind for us? What good things will we discover there?

In this story from Luke, Jesus was surrounded by crowds “pressing in on him.” When he saw two boats on the shore, he climbed into Simon’s boat and asked him to go out on the lake so he could teach from there. When he finished, he surprised Simon by instructing him to go into the deeper water and put his nets down. Simon had been fishing all night long and had caught nothing! Jesus’s words did not make sense to Simon, but he must have sensed that Jesus was to be trusted, and so he obeyed. He and the fishermen caught so many fish that Simon fell to his knees! From that moment on, Simon Peter and his partners followed Jesus.

Today let’s consider how we might move into deeper water in our relationship with God in Christ, whether through prayer, worship, contemplation, journaling, study, or service. How might Jesus be calling us to spend time with him in new ways? Have your prayers become stale, rote? These months of social distancing from one another may cause us to feel separated from God, too. For many of us, our way of worshiping has changed significantly. Are you finding new ways to spend time with God and others? When you cast out the net of your soul, is it being filled with all of the goodness of God?

Our invitation for today is to change our way of drawing near to God, especially if we have been merely skimming the surface or wading in the shallows. Changing our routine can refresh our souls, our outlook, and our perspective. We can try a meaningful prayer practice, begin a new spiritual book, praise God as we walk outdoors, create a cozy corner just for prayer, or listen to inspirational music or podcasts. We can even reposition ourselves through our approach – through our spirit – by letting our guard down, changing our expectations, or silencing our requests.

Like Simon, we may have our doubts about moving into deeper waters, and we may feel a bit of uncertainty and discomfort. What do these feelings reveal in us, teach us? How are we being stretched? These revelations can also be embraced as gifts of discovery as we move more deeply into God.

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God is always at work within us. God always wants to fill our nets with abundant goodness and love. Today, let’s ask God to show us where and how we are to cast our nets. When we eventually draw them in, may we glean all that is nourishing, worthy, and fruitful, as we thank Jesus for calling us into deeper waters.

~~~~~

Our readings for tomorrow will be Hebrews 12:1-2 and James 1:2-4.

Photo by Romain HUNEAU on Unsplash

Bible verses taken from https://classic.biblegateway.com/

THE ‘LET’ OF LENT – Tuesday, March 16th

On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:37-38 NRSV)

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let everyone who hears say, “Come.” And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift. (Revelation 22:17 NRSV)

I love this spiritual invitation that Jesus gives us! First, he perfectly describes our longing for him as being “thirsty.” Our need for Jesus is like thirst, for we need him to quench our deepest yearnings, to refresh our dry spirits, to replenish our withered souls. Then he calls us to freely come, to take the water of life as a gift! We are given this holy thirst, and we are given the answer to our thirst. Jesus is our source and sustenance of life.

I have felt this thirst for Jesus, haven’t you? I want to come to him when I’m worried, when I’m thankful, when I need direction, and even when I’m content. I cannot recall a time when I thought, “Okay, I have had my fill of Jesus now.” These words today bless this holy longing. Jesus invites us to freely come and drink.

Then we have this verse that confuses me a bit: Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”¹ Jesus abides in us always. He fills us with his goodness and love forever. In him, we have everything we need for life.

But I’m still thirsty… I still want more of Jesus. Am I missing something? Where is this thirst coming from, if Jesus has already filled me?

I found my answer by learning more about sponges. 😀

HOW DOES A SPONGE WORK? The key to functionality when speaking of sponges, is a little scientific concept known as surface tension. All of those nooks, crannies and holes are not just for looks, and they are actually integral to how this tool works. The increased surface tension created by this inner structure will actually draw in moisture and cause it to cling to the surface of the sponge, and then absorb into the material… In general, the more holes there are, the more surface area there is, and therefore, the more moisture the sponge can hold…

When dry, these holes are larger and more rigid, but as the block begins to saturate, the holes will shrink as the rest of the sponge swells. A dry sponge allows water to flow in quickly, but will also cause more water to escape due to the big holes. As the holes shrink, the water has a more difficult time leaving due to the narrowed passageways, but it will also begin sticking to the other water molecules as well. This is why a wet sponge will soak up more water than a dry one. The holes of a sponge act as absorption points as well as storage areas, and when water begins to enter, it will both cling to the vast surface area as well as absorb into the material.²

We are like the sponge in our thirst for Christ. When we create more space for time with God, these spaces increase our ‘surface area’ to receive and absorb more of the water of life. God increases our soul’s capacity – much like the spaces in a sponge expand – so we can take in even more precious water. As additional water begins to shrink the spaces, these spaces become both absorption points and storage areas.

Wet sponges can absorb more liquid than dry ones!

Let us keep seeking, keep thirsting for this water of life. As we become more saturated, may we let God continue to expand our spaces and increase our absorption. May we also remember to generously and freely pour out the water of life for others, for we can trust Jesus’s promise to keep filling us – always!

~~~~~

May we respond to Jesus’s invitation to us, “Let anyone who is thirsty, come,” with joyful and open hearts to absorb every drop!

~~~~~

Our reading for tomorrow is Luke 5:1-11.

 ¹John 6:35 (NRSV)

²Read more at: What Type Of Sponge Is Most Absorbent? – Simply Good Tips (simplygoodstuff.com)

Photo by Matthew T Rader on Unsplash

Bible verses are found at https://classic.biblegateway.com/

THE ‘LET’ OF LENT – Monday, March 15th

Read Matthew 20:29-34.

They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.”
Matthew 20:33 (NRSV)

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them;
for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.”
Matthew 19:14 (NRSV)

Our spiritual invitation for today, “Let our eyes be opened,” is our invitation to a fresh new way of regarding life.

When the blind men had their sight restored, they not only saw the world with clarity, we can imagine they also saw the world with gratitude and wonder! They could look at the beauty of nature, the faces of loved ones, even the ordinary things of life as fresh, new, and exciting. Their vision would help them become more mobile and free. They could more readily discover and explore the rich abundance of life with grateful and joyful exuberance.

How might those of us who already have our sight become blinded to the rich fullness of life? I think of my days spent worrying over needless concerns while I am missing out on precious moments. The times when my setbacks keep me from seeing my small successes. When the routine monotony of pandemic life diminishes my sense of adventure. When I begin to believe that my age prohibits my dreaming or imagining greater goals or exciting escapades. These daily blinders can keep me from seeing all that life with God offers us. I can miss finding so much goodness, simply because I have limited my view.

The second verse must be included, for what better way is there to see anew, than to see through the eyes of a child?

A while back, I posted this photo on my Facebook page. My two-year old granddaughter had refused to put the yellow stickers on the outlines, because the outlines were blue. Instead, she chose the photos that more closely resembled the stickers! My friend Julie then commented, “Oh those kids. They have a whole new way of looking at things. Maybe that’s why Jesus said what he did about children.” Her words soon became my inspiration for today’s reflection. (Thank you, Julie!)

Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven belongs to little children and people like them. Today, let’s be attentive to God in the world by looking around us with fresh eyes. Let’s look at life anew with the innocence and joy of a child. When was the last time you inspected a blade of grass with wonder? Looked at the clouds and thought of heaven? Sat in a sanctuary and truly felt small? Romped playfully with your dog? Regarded a loved one as your hero?

When was the last time you stopped to thank God for creating this everyday miracle of life? When have you thanked God for remaining with us and delighting in our enjoyment of its goodness?

~~~~~

May we let God open our eyes to see the beauty, wonder, awe, and joy of everyday life – and God’s loving presence within it all.

~~~~~

Our readings for tomorrow will be John 7:37-38 and Revelation 22:17.

Photo by Karen

Bible verses found at https://classic.biblegateway.com/

THE ‘LET’ OF LENT – Friday, March 12th

Read 1 John 3:1-7.

Little children, let no one deceive you.
Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.
1 John 3:7 (NRSV)

In this passage, John is writing to churches in conflict because of false teachings. This excerpt from Sermon Writer explains a bit more…

Truth is important.  Jesus said, “The truth will make you free” (John 8:32). The opposite is also true.  Living according to untrue principles can rob people of their freedom. Apparently the false teachers have taught that doing what is right is unnecessary… But John takes the other side.  To be righteous and worthy of fellowship with Christ, we need to practice righteousness––not just give it lip service.¹

Our spiritual invitation for today is to Let no one deceive us as we strive to live a righteous life.

Let no one deceive us? How does one do this? Finding real truth in our world can be challenging, with the abundant and conflicting information provided by so many sources of news, social media, and even conspiracy theorists. In a similar way, the Bible offers all sorts of conflicting messages, stories that are difficult to believe, and even words we would rather not consider. What should we believe? How might we discern the truths we are to live out? How do we live righteously?

Some biblical passages will most likely remain a mystery to me; part of my living in faith is learning to be at peace with that mystery, to acknowledge that God and God’s purposes are sometimes beyond my understanding. But a few years ago, Pastor Michael talked about biblical truth in our group study session. One point that has stayed with me is that we can first strive to live by the eternal truths – those words that will make sense, ring solid and true, and foster goodness and love – throughout all of time.

We can claim such verses as “(nothing…) will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35), or “Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11), or “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23) as eternal truths. We can understand and trust the words that reflect the loving goodness of God and our role in sharing that goodness.

When the meanings or intentions of other verses are less clear, we can examine these words in light of the time and culture of the writings. We can glean lessons and insights by seeing the symbolism of words, or find subtle or deeper meanings in the stories passed along. We can read and learn more about the history and the intent of the books that were compiled for the Bible. I especially love learning about the symbolism in some of the hard-to-believe stories that help me make sense of their meaning and purpose.

Most of all, we have the Spirit to guide our reading, to reveal what we are to know, and to live accordingly. The Spirit will always guide us to love, serve, trust, hope, learn, pray – and yes, discern – what is our righteous truth for living. The Spirit serves as our trustworthy source of truth for these ever-changing and often confusing times. Always.

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May we let the Spirit guide us in our understanding and discernment, so that we may live righteously in eternal truth and love.

~~~~~

Our reading for Monday will be Matthew 20:29-34.

¹1 John 3:1-7 – Sermon Writer, Copyright 2017, Richard Niell Donovan

Photo by isaac sloman on Unsplash

Bible verses taken from https://classic.biblegateway.com

THE LET OF LENT – Thursday, March 11th

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them,
“Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”
John 8:7 (NRSV)

Let us therefore no longer pass judgment on one another,
but resolve instead never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of another.
Romans 14:13 (NRSV)

Today our spiritual invitation is to Let us not pass judgment. I am sharing a post from February of 2018 for our reflection, REMOVE: Friday, February 16th – Simply Soul Searching…

Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log 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 out of your neighbor’s eye. (Matthew 7:1-5 NRSV)

I have written of this before, but this passage always has me asking, “Why couldn’t Jesus just tell us to remove the speck in our own eye before we remove the speck in our neighbor’s eye? Why do I have to have a log when my neighbor only has a speck?”

Jesus is pointing out the difficulty we have in seeing our own flaws. But could Jesus also be showing us that our judgment of the faults of others reveals how much our own faults are troubling us?

In her article, “How to Be Less Critical,” Brené Brown writes,

One way to become more aware of how we judge is to understand why: We’re often motivated by a need to compare ourselves favorably with the people around us. We tend to judge others in areas where we feel most vulnerable or not good enough… In these moments, we take unconscious refuge in the thought, “At least I’m better than someone.”¹

What we find annoying in others is something that annoys us in ourselves! I do this when I make excuses or blame outside factors when I am late for an appointment, but then question why another person isn’t more responsible with her time. I do this when we buy a second Christmas tree instead of donating that money to a community shelter, but then become critical of those greedy politicians. I may feel a bit uncomfortable and frivolous about the tree, but at least “I’m not as bad as they are.” My specks increase from the flaws themselves into: flaws + blame + comparison + judgment of others = logs!

Jesus doesn’t say we are only to remove our log. He invites us to remove our log in order to more clearly see the speck we are to remove in others. Imagine helping one another as beloved children of God. In humbly and honestly pointing out our own logs and how God is helping us to remove them, other dear ones might recognize and find help for their own. A speck in any eye is painful, and Jesus wants to free all of us from that pain and irritation. Jesus also knows a greater truth: as we remove our own log, the other person’s speck will no longer be such a concern to us- because we are no longer irritated by our own.

When do you find yourself most critical or judgmental? What “speck” do you find most irritating or annoying in others? How might God be revealing something in yourself- something God is ready to help you remove?

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May we let God reveal everything that is not pleasing in us, let God then cleanse us from those things, and let God guide us to serve one another with gentleness, mercy, and truth.

~~~~~

Our reading for tomorrow will be 1 John 3:1-7.

¹http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/28/brene-brown-on-being-less-critical_n_5043671.html

Photo by Nonsap Visuals on Unsplash

Bible verses found at https://classic.biblegateway.com/