Matthew 7:3-5
3 “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?4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 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."
We often fall into the mindset that personal sanctification ("taking the plank out of our eye") is solely for our own sake. Reading this today reminds me, however, that personal sanctification is necessary for me to help others ("see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye"). I take the plank out of my eye, not just to be a hypocrite, but so that I can see clearly and help others.
ReplyDeleteThis verse is famously used to justify not saying anything about anything. But the point of this--as Sam points out--is not to say "we are all un-worthy" (albeit it true), but to consider the nature of true holiness of God... Real holiness humbles us, real holiness helps us to 'see' life more clearly, and real holiness makes us serve others, foregoing any airs of superiority.
ReplyDeleteIn those times when I see this sort of holiness at work in others, I am both convicted and attracted.