Devotion - Monday, October 18

Luke 6 contains Jesus’ observation that we quickly see the error in the lives of another, while ignoring our own failings. He says, “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?”

There are a number of reasons “Why.” One reason is our belief that the errors committed by us are not as serious. “My gossip is rooted in fact!” Another reason involves a hierarchy of transgression. The thing I do to break the law is not as bad a sin as that committed by another. We might tell ourselves that our confession will absolve us of the transgression; that once the wrong we have committed rises to awareness we will turn to God and repent. Of course, all the while assuming that the other person commits their transgression out of willful intent to inflict injury.

Jesus instructs those identified in this teaching to “First remove the log from you own eye, and they you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.”

Recognizing, admitting, and dealing with the log is our first step.

Few things are as difficult as this. Few things are as important.

When another helps us to identify the places in our lives where things are out of sync, they are not only helping us correct present wrongs, they are aid us in our hope to avoid future transgressions. Exposing a short-sighted comment or act reduces the likelihood that we will repeat the error. They truly are “helping” us when they point out to us that we have this timber obstructing our view.

Let us be quick to see the log; slow to over-exaggerate the size of the speck. And, when another comes to our aid, identifying for us the wrong in our life, let us be thankful for their aid.