This is the title of the passage in Matthew 7that includes verse 5 that states, “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.
Several years ago, while visiting family in the USA, this was part of a conversation between father and daughter: “I wish you would finish the drink in your can and then put it in the bin!” “Actually, Dad, that is not my drink, it’s yours!”
I may have mentioned in a previous TFTD of a conversation with a colleague driving me to a meeting. He said, “I have come to realise that the faults I see in other people are a reflection of my own.” A few miles further, and he asked,” David, what do you think are my faults?” To avoid incriminating myself, I declined to answer!
As I get (even) older, I am aware of the danger of thinking of when things were different, if not better. A recent media survey posed the question, “Would you be happier if we didn’t have the internet?” To my surprise, the majority responded “Yes”, but I disagreed. I pointed out that when some of my family members moved to the USA, it involved weekly, expensive phone calls. Today we have computer links that can last for hours at the cost of an internet connection.
May our God help us not to assume the past was always better or that we are immune to the faults we may see in others.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please help us to centre our outlook on the character of Your Son, Jesus Christ, and follow His example. AMEN