Lying Mirrors/Lying Scales

*Scriptures taken from Biblegateway.com

Matthew 7:1-6

The wisest advice I've ever read not given directly from the Bible was in the book The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky. In a priest warns the village idiot of lying to oneself. "The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to such a pass that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love, and in order to occupy and distract himself without love he gives way to passions and coarse pleasures, and sinks to bestiality in his vices, all from continual lying to other men and to himself." (Book II, Chapter 2) The power of its veracity has never left me.

I find it difficult to think that Jesus would make use of the example of the man with the plank in his eye just so he could get us to laugh at the hypocrite's blunder. I think there is a much more serious message behind it. We all have sin in our lives, some "big" and some "small" (though all sin leads to the same result - separation from God). But there are those of us who go to church regularly, read the Bible, pray, and maybe even read this blog who are walking around with planks in our eyes. We have become desensitized to it, after awhile forgetting that it's not suppose to be there. These are our closet sins of which Jesus made mention in chapter 5. It is no coincidence that these are the sins that begin with "the eye." As they linger, they become a part of us, and we cannot see how they impair our vision of the things around us.

After all, is that not what judgment is - rightly discerning the things we see? We carry around these planks and think we're in a position to help others with their specks because we've acquired so many spiritual accolades. And the funny thing is that Jesus, in exclaiming "Hypocrite!", is not saying, "How dare you?!" Notice in verse 5, He does address the speck removal as that man's mission. But first, the plank has got to go.

My sisters in Christ, I come bearing this message, "The plank has got to go." The last devotional on grace-based obedience left a huge impact on myself, and from the multiple responses I received, I know it left one on you all as well. With the new year fastly approaching, I implore you to make obedience to God by following His Word the foremost resolution on your list. But confession must precede repentence. And for some of us to confess, it takes a change in furniture. We need to stop looking into the mirror that shows us as we see ourselves and start seeing things from God's perspective. We may have grown accustomed to the plank, but God knows it for what it is - an intrusion on His perfect creation.

That's right - we are His perfect creation. I believe with all my heart that He created us to perfectly fit His intended mission for each of us. But the plank gets in the way. It may be adultery, anger, or any of the other sins we've addressed. Particulary adultery - the "Jesus definition." How many ministers do we hear about whose ministries fall apart because of their sexual, financial, and fame lusting? It's hard to picture comparing ourselves to these large-scale ministries, but that is another lie we tell ourselves. Our work is just as crucial as theirs, and any impediment is just as destructive.

I know these are not easy addictions to let go of. A change in character takes time, and the road will be arduous at best. But, oh, if you could see the the plans He has for you - how the difficulties pale in comparison! Every time someone messages me about the devotionals, my heart rejoices - God is showing me another woman who is called to be a light unto this darkened world! Whatever our sins may be, let us lay it down today at the foot of the cross, and let Him equip us for unfathomable victories ahead.

God bless,

Alisha