I liked Selwyn’s quote (as follows), regarding what his father used to say.
“If some people were as good at telling themselves what is wrong with them as they are in telling others, they would be wonderful Christians. Now they are just wonderful Pharisees.”
Selwyn continues: “A self-focus is good – as long as it is in balance. Repeatedly in Scripture we are called to self-examination. Those who concern themselves with examining the lives of others and do not occasionally embark upon a few moments of self-examination, will wake up one day to discover that their virtue has become a vice.”
In Mark 6: 37-42 (NLT), we read: ”Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” Then Jesus gave the following illustration: “Can one blind person lead another? Won’t they both fall into a ditch? Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher.
“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying, ‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”
I believe it’s essential that we spend more than a few moments of self-examination (a close look at our spiritual health) on a regular basis. That is, we should schedule a quiet time; when, through prayer we request God’s assistance in examining our eyes to identify the large logs, and to ask Him to help us remove these obstacles.
[As an aside, the verse; 'Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others ... ', is often misused. It does not mean that we don't make judgments (based on Scripture) about 'thoughts and actions'; I think it does mean - in a general sense - that we don't make judgments about a person's spiritual standing with God (God alone, is in charge of that area!) It would take a very lengthy article to fully explain my last few statements. However, Jesus' concluding comment, gives an indication of the context, "then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye". ]
For me, the following verses (taken from those set for reading and meditation, Hosea 7:1-10), contain a powerful commentary on, our own age. Hosea 7:8-10 (NLT): “The people of Israel mingle with godless foreigners, making themselves as worthless as a half-baked cake! Worshiping foreign gods has sapped their strength, but they don’t even know it. Their hair is gray, but they don’t realize they’re old and weak. Their arrogance testifies against them, yet they don’t return to the Lord their God or even try to find him.” Substitute, those who call themselves Christians, for Israel; and consumerism, etc, for foreign gods – and reflect upon how our strength has been sapped. What are your views?
‘Take heed’
I liked Selwyn’s quote (as follows), regarding what his father used to say.
“If some people were as good at telling themselves what is wrong with them as they are in telling others, they would be wonderful Christians. Now they are just wonderful Pharisees.”
Selwyn continues: “A self-focus is good – as long as it is in balance. Repeatedly in Scripture we are called to self-examination. Those who concern themselves with examining the lives of others and do not occasionally embark upon a few moments of self-examination, will wake up one day to discover that their virtue has become a vice.”
In Mark 6: 37-42 (NLT), we read: ”Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” Then Jesus gave the following illustration: “Can one blind person lead another? Won’t they both fall into a ditch? Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher.
“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying, ‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”
I believe it’s essential that we spend more than a few moments of self-examination (a close look at our spiritual health) on a regular basis. That is, we should schedule a quiet time; when, through prayer we request God’s assistance in examining our eyes to identify the large logs, and to ask Him to help us remove these obstacles.
[As an aside, the verse; 'Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others ... ', is often misused. It does not mean that we don't make judgments (based on Scripture) about 'thoughts and actions'; I think it does mean - in a general sense - that we don't make judgments about a person's spiritual standing with God (God alone, is in charge of that area!) It would take a very lengthy article to fully explain my last few statements. However, Jesus' concluding comment, gives an indication of the context, "then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye". ]
For me, the following verses (taken from those set for reading and meditation, Hosea 7:1-10), contain a powerful commentary on, our own age. Hosea 7:8-10 (NLT): “The people of Israel mingle with godless foreigners, making themselves as worthless as a half-baked cake! Worshiping foreign gods has sapped their strength, but they don’t even know it. Their hair is gray, but they don’t realize they’re old and weak. Their arrogance testifies against them, yet they don’t return to the Lord their God or even try to find him.” Substitute, those who call themselves Christians, for Israel; and consumerism, etc, for foreign gods – and reflect upon how our strength has been sapped. What are your views?