Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

Luke 6:41 (New International Version)

41"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?


from Our Daily Bread

It was just a speck, a tiny foreign object
flying through the air on a windy day while
I was cutting the grass. Somehow that speck
made its way into my left eye.

For the next few hours that little speck caused
quite a bit of irritation. I tried washing it out. My
wife, Sue, a nurse, tried everything she could
think of. Finally, we went to a Med Center, where
the medical personnel on duty couldn’t get it out
either. Only after applying some ointment and
waiting several more annoying hours did I get
relief from the speck.

This tiny, nagging irritant made me think anew
about Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 7 about criticizing
others. My first thought was to be impressed with
the practicality of Jesus’ illustration. Using the
effective literary tool of hyperbole, or exaggeration,
He explained for His listeners how foolish it is for
a person to criticize someone without seeing that
he or she is also guilty of error. If you can find
someone else’s little speck while ignoring the hunk
of wood in your own eye, something’s wrong. It
should be unthinkable to ignore our own faults while
pointing out someone else’s.

An attitude of self-righteousness has no place in the
Christian life  THAT SHOULD BE PLAIN TO SEE!

Prayer:
Lord, help me not to get caught up in pointing
out the “little” sins in others’ lives, while ignoring
my own glaring sin. I’m thankful that with repentance
comes forgiveness. In Jesus Name Amen.

INSPECT YOUR OWN LIFE BEFORE YOU LOOK
FOR SPECKS IN OTHERS.

Scripture:

17I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive
the kingdom of God like a little child will never
enter it." (Luke 18:17)


Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once
Talked about a contest he was asked to judge.
The purpose of the
Contest was to find the most caring child.

The winner was:

A four-year-old child, whose next door
neighbor was an elderly gentleman, who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old Gentleman's' yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.
When his mother asked him what he had
said to the neighbor, the little boy just said, 'Nothing, I just
Helped him cry.'

WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU HELPED
SOMEONE CRY?

Scripture:

(Prologue: Christ, the Eternal Word)

1 In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He existed in the beginning with God.
3 God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,*
and his life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.
(John 1:1-5)  NLT

Reflection:

I was going through some boxes the other
day and I ran across some boxes that said,
"Christmas Stuff".  I opened the box and
there was the Nativity. Whenever I think
about Christ's birth, I am reminded that
little baby, Jesus, whose birth we
celebrate, was there when God first
created the world back in Genesis.
He was there when Noah built the ark.
He was there when Moses received the
ten commandments. He was there when
Job suffered and lost everything only
to emerge victorious in the end.
He was there. He was always there.
What's really is exciting for me is that
Jesus Christ is here right now.  As
He was there in the Old Testament,
in the beginning, and throughout history.
He is here now, for you and  for me.
Knowing all His work and sacrifice can
make a difference in our lives.

JUST OPEN THE DOOR AND LET HIM IN