“If you live with a critical, judgmental spirit—don’t be shocked when you get the same in return. You obsess over a friend’s sawdust-sized sin or failure, while you ignore the ruff-hewn plank of poor-loving in your own eye… You hypocrite. If you really want to care for someone, own and deal with your own stuff first. That will make you a good friend and healer, not a gossip and perpetrator.” (Paraphrase of Matt.7:1–5)
Lord Jesus, when I rubbed my eyes this morning—it wasn’t eye-gunk; it was heart gunk that was all crusty and irritating. I went to bed last night as chief prosecuting attorney, the court reporter, whole jury, and executioner. Just because I don’t throw things or scream doesn’t mean I’m not a critical person. Condescending smugness, silent heart-assassin, and “photographic how-you-hurt-me memory” are all synonyms for clanging cymbals (1 Cor. 13:1).
My self-righteousness doesn’t show up in trying to merit more of your love—which is impossible; but when I withhold your love from others—which is ugly. Have mercy on me, Lord. How do I withhold your love, Jesus? In many ways, but quite often when I don’t choose to deal with other people’s “eye speck” as redemptively as possible. Forgive me, Lord.
Jesus, as chief cardiologist and head of the department of ophthalmology, bring your grace and truth to bear in my heart and my eyes. I want to love others as you love me, see them as you see them, and deal with breaches and brokenness in relationships “in line with the truth of the Gospel” (Gal2:14). Relationships will continue to be complex and messy all the way Home; but they don’t have to amass more undealt with heart-and-eye-gunk. Help us all, Jesus. Help and free me. So Very Amen.
