Matthew 7:3-5 [NIV] | 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
When life circumstances do not go our way, we can be quick to judge others in their sin. With blinders on we tend to see the fault in others while looking past our own area of sin. Jesus is not telling us that we should not care for others by pointing out sin, he wants us to make sure our life is in check as well. As we point out sin, we seek the goal of confession, repentance, and forgiveness. We cannot merely point fingers.
God has given us the pathway to forgiveness through the blood of Jesus. As we confess our sin, or point out the sin of another person, we agree with God our sinfulness and need for a Savior. God is fully aware of the sin in our lives; confession is having a sincere heart and acknowledgement we need help. As we point others to confessions, it is done with a loving heart that helps lead to confession – not to tear others down.
Jesus once told a group of Pharisees who wanted to stone a woman to death for adultery to go for it, but the first to cast the stone had to be without sin. One by one each man walked away. Jesus looks at the adulterous woman and says, “Go, and sin no more.” Confession. Repentance. Forgiveness. Praise God for the gift of forgiveness and the power of the Holy Sprit to help us turn from our sin. This is a gift for all who have faith in Jesus. It is time we share it in love.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for the forgiveness we have in Jesus. Help us to see the sin in our own lives and help other to confession, repentance, and forgiveness. Lead us to not be hypocrites and to live lives worthy of your praise. In the glorious name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Action Plan:
Today I will acknowledge and confess my own sin before I am quick to judge others.