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Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International. |
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Let's Be Real
"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? 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? 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."1 If you have ever had a really close relationship with
someone, you know that some important components of such relationship are to be
authentic and build trust. People don't like "fakes". They want to befriend
people who are not afraid of being who they are, who are honest with themselves
and others, and who take responsibility for their actions. One of the biggest mistakes that many Christians make, is
to believe that they need to have it all together, all the time. In their efforts
to be the best Christian they can be, they begin hiding their flaws and hope no
one will see them. Over time, they continue suppressing these flaws, telling
themselves that all is good, but those flaws are never dealt with as they
should. And although these Christian's have hidden "planks in their eyes", they
believe that because they have hidden it so well, it now gives them permission
to go pinpoint the mistakes their neighbor is making. This pattern of behavior
is detrimental to their own spiritual health but is also an obstacle when it
comes to building genuine relationships with other people. Others might feel
inferior to some extent because they are struggling with real life problems and are looking for someone imperfect who is facing the same challenges, or who
has faced them in the past and overcome. This type of Christian misses out on
many opportunities to be "as Jesus" to others because they have not been real with
themselves or with God. Our stories are meant to be a blessing to others and be a
tool God uses to bring people to Himself. Admitting that we are in different
stages of our spiritual growth, and sharing our struggles, is a way to create accountability
and trust. I am not saying you need to shout your flaws from the rooftops but
be aware of the people God brings into your life who need to see the real you... the
good, the bad, and the ugly! Suggested prayer: Dear God, thank you for the grace and
salvation you have given me. I did nothing to earn or deserve it, yet you gave
it to me anyway. Please use both my victories and mistakes to be a testimony to
others. Help them find hope for their own faith journey and be drawn closer to
you through my genuine words and actions. Thank you for hearing and answering my
prayer. In Jesus's name, amen. 1. Matthew
7:3-5. Today's Encounter was written by: Crystal B. |
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