Motes, Beams, and Self-Reflection

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.”
Luke 6:41–42

The story is told of an old New England preacher who found that the clock in the back of his church would not keep the correct time. Even worse, it was not consistent. Sometimes it ran too fast and other times it was too slow. After his attempts to reset the clock failed, the preacher hung a sign over the clock that read: “Don’t blame my hands—the problem is deeper than that.”
Human nature is such that it is far easier and more comfortable for us to focus on the sins and shortcomings of others rather than our own. And, in truth, our tendency is to exaggerate the faults of others while minimizing our own. Yet that does not reveal that our spiritual condition is better, but rather that we are hypocrites who are willing to condemn others for things that are even smaller than those we allow in our own lives.
A harsh and judgmental spirit is an indication of a heart problem. The pride that makes us feel better when we assess others to be worse than ourselves will not survive a careful look into the Word of God. “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (James 1:25).
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Before pointing out the failings of others, look at your own heart carefully in the mirror of God’s Word.

You Are God's Favorite

by Joyce Meyer - posted February 13, 2016

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.
—Psalm 17:8

What does it mean to be a favorite? It means to be particularly favored, esteemed, and preferred. It means to enjoy special attention, personal affection, and preferential treatment, even without being deserving of it. There is nothing about you or me or anyone else that can cause us to become God's favorite. He chooses us for that place of honor and esteem by an act of His sovereign grace. All we can do is receive His gracious gift in an attitude of thanksgiving and humility.
Now when I talk about being the favorite of God, I must make something clear. Because God is God of all His creation, and because He has a personal relationship with each one of His children, He can say to every single one of us at the same time, and sincerely mean it, "You are the apple of My eye; you are My favorite child."
It took a while for me to come to understand that truth. In fact, at first I was afraid to believe it. It was hard for me to imagine myself as God's favorite, even though that is what He was telling me I was.
But then I began to realize that it is what He tells each of His children. He wants to say it to anyone who will believe it, accept it, and walk in it. God assures each of us that we are His favorite child, because He wants us to be secure in who we are in Christ Jesus so that we will have the confidence and assurance we need to walk victoriously through this life drawing others to share with us in His marvelous grace.