The Speck and the Log

How often do we point fingers when others do wrong? How often do we become self-righteous when others sin? Much too often, I'm afraid. Yet contrary to popular belief, we may judge others--just not in a self-righteous, damning way.

In Matthew 7, Jesus teaches the right way to judge. First, he gives a warning:

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you."

This refers to the self-righteous, damning way the religious leaders were judging others at the time. Many of us continue to act like Pharisees to this day in spite of Jesus' warning; however, this is the method of judgement we are to avoid like the plague. 

Then, he teaches what steps must be taken to judge correctly: 

"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? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log 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 brother's eye."

First of all, the speck is a smaller version of the log. Basically, it's easy for us to see a splinter in someone else's eye because we have a log in our own or, more specifically, the same sin in our lives. We must deal with our logs (a.k.a. repent) and then go to our brother/sister in Christ and help remove the splinter we see over there. I love the metaphor here about sight. The log blocks our view. When we judge sinfully, we can't see to judge correctly, yet when we repent, we have a clear view to know how to help our neighbor overcome the same sins we have struggled to overcome. It's a beautiful picture of restoring a brother/sister to Christ: Christ knew that we would know how to help the least of these only after we realized our own struggles, confessed these to Christ, and turned from our wicked ways. 

And finally, a command is given:

“Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you." 

The ones who fail to repent, even after you approach them in the right manner must be left to their own devices. If sinners won't listen to you when you've judged them correctly, leave them to God. You've done all you can do, and God will not be mocked. Sadly, the speck bearers will have to learn the hard way.

The next time you hear someone say, "It's wrong to judge" or "Judge not lest ye be judged" or "Don't judge me," please remember the rest of what Jesus said. Jesus didn't stop with a warning about judging. That was only the beginning of an important lesson on how to judge correctly. 

Is there someone whose sin concerns you? Repent first. Then, through God's guidance, you will know how to judge.

This & That

This article confronts a hard truth about black genocide. So sad.
That could have been written about my life as a mother. So true.

Goals for 2013

I hate making resolutions at the turn of the new year because I never keep them. This year, I made four anyway:

1) Read through the Bible in a year.

I have been wanting to do this my entire adult life. I always have gotten lost somewhere along the way or have gotten so far behind I gave up on the plan and started another Bible study of some sort. This year, I have accountability for the first time: my phone reminds me every morning at five a.m. and my sister-in-law and my husband were told to keep asking me if I'm reading. So far, so good.

2) Get organized.

I have failed to do this since my daughter was born. Things have piled up, and I hate clutter with a passion. I have been a little busy since she was born and the twins came less than two years later, so I've had a good excuse or two. Add in several moves and my excuses get even more reasonable. So far, I've been taking it one area at a time, but I'm still working on it. It might take all spring and summer, but I hope to get organized before next fall. This time, I think I might succeed.

3) RUN, not run/walk, my first 5K.

I started out great training. I didn't miss a day the first two weeks. Then, it rained for nine days straight. Then, my kids got sick. Then...the excuses become endless. I really love running. I just always put my "me time" on the back burner as I should as a mother of young ones. Unfortunately, I probably won't reach this one this year, or if I do, it won't be in March like I had planned. Only time will tell...

4) Learn how to use my fancy camera that I've had for three years.

I haven't even started.

Refine and Remind

It's 2 a.m. I've been in bed for a few hours, yet I'm awakened once again when all I want to do is sleep. What awakened me? One of my beautiful babies, of course. During those unexpected (or should I say expected?) moments, God teaches me more of His beautiful truth: Parenting leads to many sleepless nights, yet God uses those times to refine and remind me.

Refine

God refines me in the wee hours by tearing away my selfishness. I cannot refuse to comfort the teething baby, the sick child, or the hungry infant. I cannot tell you the number of nights I have rocked babies to sleep wishing for my own sleep, yet seeing that God was molding me as I selflessly cared for another's needs above my own. My sweet husband has rocked his share of babies, too. I see the change in both of our lives as we care for the helpless.

Remind

Those sleepless nights and precious times in the wee hours when noises cease help me remember that I am but a child, too. Remembering when I cry out to Him in my helpless state that He selflessly will give everything I need helps me keep trials and tribulations in the right perspective: God is my nurturing, caring Father whose provision, protection, and comfort are never-ending. 

You may not be a parent, but whatever in your life requires sacrifice should refine and remind you as well. Remember the next time you are called to go above and beyond what you feel you can do in your own strength, God uses these times to make us holier, shaping us into the men and women of God He intends.

Reconcile!

Reconciliation Josefina de Vasconcellos

"Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

From 2 Corinthians 5 (ESV)

"Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you."

From 2 Corinthians 13 (ESV)

Before I became a Christian, I was content to live without reconciliation. I talked myself into justifying my own sins against God and others. I could speak harshly about my various offenders and hold their sins against me against them for as long as I desired. I could build up bitterness inside and bash my enemies or lash out at any given time without caring about the consequences. Underneath it all, I was miserable yet unchanged by that misery.

Now, things have changed. Since God took my heart captive, I cannot act this way without immediate and, oftentimes, serious consequences. As a new creation, He pursues my wandering heart when I start holding others' sins against them and reminds me that He does not hold my sins against me. He implores me, through Paul, that I must be reconciled to Him and others on behalf of Christ.

The difficult truth of reconciliation with others is that it is not always possible on both sides. When other people don't want to reconcile, we must still "aim for restoration" even if it seems impossible. We must aim for peace, at the least, on our side.

Another difficult truth is that reconciliation proves harder than one might think. When choosing to reconcile, Christians must make choices daily to continue to live in reconciliation rather than fall back into the sins of bitterness and hatred. We don't just chose to reconcile and then everything becomes peachy. We choose to reconcile in spite of the circumstances we face daily. As ambassadors for Christ, we must desire reconciliation more than anything. We must not live like non-Christians and hold grudges. Satan wants Christians to mirror his ways, not Christ's. I fear Satan wins this battle in many Christians' hearts too often.

The best part about reconciliation, to me, is its beauty. How beautiful are those who humbly seek reconciliation! Reconciling with God is like nothing else we can experience on earth. A close second is reconciliation with others. Hugging an offender, forgiving sins, having your own sins forgiven, and crying out of repentance and joy all reveal a beautiful picture of God's grace and mercy in our lives. 

Reconciliation is a choice Christians must make daily in our relationships with God, family, and others. Is there someone who comes to mind as you read this? Will you aim to reconcile with him/her? It's not easy, not always two-sided, or not a one time thing, you know, but it's always God-pleasing and heart-changing. Most important of all, it's the ministry given to us as ambassadors for Christ.

My Favorite Bible Promises of All Time

Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)

And after you have suffered a little while, 
the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, 
will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 
To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
I Peter 5:10-11 (ESV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)

Be Still, My Soul

Be Still, My Soul (Listen here.)

by Catharina von Schlegel, 1697-?

Translated by Jane Borthwick, 1813-1897

Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;

Leave to thy God to order and provide;

In every change He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend

Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake

To guide the future as He has the past.

Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake;

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know

His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul, though dearest friends depart

And all is darkened in the vale of tears;

Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,

Who comes to soothe thy sorrows and thy fears.

Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay

From His own fulness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on

When we shall be forever with the Lord,

When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,

Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,

All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Are You a Jezebel?

Are you a Jezebel?
Do you seek to please men or God?
Do you fill your mind with things of this world or of God?
Do you envy your friends or are you praying God's best for them?
Do you view your role as seductress or encourager?
Do you scheme, lie, and seek to destroy others?
Do you worship false gods/idols?
Are you a Jezebel?

First of all, if you don't know Jezebel, read 1 Kings 16-21. There's a reason you probably don't know someone named Jezebel in real life. Who would want to name a kid after her?

If you aren't a Jezebel, then beware of befriending one. Pray for her soul, but watch your back, Christian. Satan creeps around wanting to destroy us, and he uses Jezebel every day for his evil purposes. Also, beware of becoming her. No one is so righteous that she cannot fall.

If you are a Jezebel, I pray that God would soften your heart to His truth. He can redeem you from your sins, no matter what you have done. He can give you a purpose that is much more meaningful than your evil desires and petty jealousies.

I am saddened by seeing so many Jezebels everywhere I turn.

Jezebel seeks to break hearts for her own selfish gain. We must stand against her together, and we must remember, in humility, that we are only one bad decision away from becoming her.

10 Resolutions for Mental Health

This was published on John Piper's blog on December 31, 2007:

On October 22, 1976, Clyde Kilby, who is now with Christ in Heaven, gave an unforgettable lecture. I went to hear him that night because I loved him. He had been one of my professors in English Literature at Wheaton College. He opened my eyes to more of life than I knew could be seen. O, what eyes he had! He was like his hero, C. S. Lewis, in this regard. When he spoke of the tree he saw on the way to class this morning, you wondered why you had been so blind all your life. Since those days in classes with Clyde Kilby, Psalm 19:1 has been central to my life: “The sky is telling the glory of God.”

That night Dr. Kilby had a pastoral heart and a poet’s eye. He pled with us to stop seeking mental health in the mirror of self-analysis, but instead to drink in the remedies of God in nature. He was not naïve. He knew of sin. He knew of the necessity of redemption in Christ. But he would have said that Christ purchased new eyes for us as well as new hearts. His plea was that we stop being unamazed by the strange glory of ordinary things. He ended that lecture in 1976 with a list of resolutions. As a tribute to my teacher and a blessing to your soul, I offer them for your joy.

1. At least once every day I shall look steadily up at the sky and remember that I, a consciousness with a conscience, am on a planet traveling in space with wonderfully mysterious things above and about me.

2. Instead of the accustomed idea of a mindless and endless evolutionary change to which we can neither add nor subtract, I shall suppose the universe guided by an Intelligence which, as Aristotle said of Greek drama, requires a beginning, a middle, and an end. I think this will save me from the cynicism expressed by Bertrand Russell before his death when he said: "There is darkness without, and when I die there will be darkness within. There is no splendor, no vastness anywhere, only triviality for a moment, and then nothing."

3. I shall not fall into the falsehood that this day, or any day, is merely another ambiguous and plodding twenty-four hours, but rather a unique event, filled, if I so wish, with worthy potentialities. I shall not be fool enough to suppose that trouble and pain are wholly evil parentheses in my existence, but just as likely ladders to be climbed toward moral and spiritual manhood.

4. I shall not turn my life into a thin, straight line which prefers abstractions to reality. I shall know what I am doing when I abstract, which of course I shall often have to do.

5. I shall not demean my own uniqueness by envy of others. I shall stop boring into myself to discover what psychological or social categories I might belong to. Mostly I shall simply forget about myself and do my work.

6. I shall open my eyes and ears. Once every day I shall simply stare at a tree, a flower, a cloud, or a person. I shall not then be concerned at all to ask what they are but simply be glad that they are. I shall joyfully allow them the mystery of what Lewis calls their "divine, magical, terrifying and ecstatic" existence.

7. I shall sometimes look back at the freshness of vision I had in childhood and try, at least for a little while, to be, in the words of Lewis Carroll, the "child of the pure unclouded brow, and dreaming eyes of wonder."

8. I shall follow Darwin's advice and turn frequently to imaginative things such as good literature and good music, preferably, as Lewis suggests, an old book and timeless music.

9. I shall not allow the devilish onrush of this century to usurp all my energies but will instead, as Charles Williams suggested, "fulfill the moment as the moment." I shall try to live well just now because the only time that exists is now.

10. Even if I turn out to be wrong, I shall bet my life on the assumption that this world is not idiotic, neither run by an absentee landlord, but that today, this very day, some stroke is being added to the cosmic canvas that in due course I shall understand with joy as a stroke made by the architect who calls himself Alpha and Omega.

HT: John Piper