Paul, our pastor, gave such a poignant illustration in one of his recent sermons that I just had to share with y'all. He was talking about the importance of exhorting and encouraging one another. Sometimes that involves going to another brother/sister in Christ to point out sin. But, he said, when you go to someone else to point out sin, they should be able to see the bloody splinters in your hands from where you have been wrestling with the log in your own eye. Think on that one for a minute...

Because how many times have I practically bludgeoned others with my attitude of (head-shaking 3 snaps in a Z-formation) self-righteousness? I'm shaking my head so much that I am battering the poor people around me with the beam that is protruding from my own eye!!! Instead, why don't I go humbly, bloody and sore to my sister (or brother) in Christ and gently say, "I see a small speck in your eye. Would you like for me to help you remove it?"

Now please, don't falsely believe that I write this because I've got this "down." Quite the contrary. Most of the things I write on this blog are what the Spirit has already convicted or is currently convicting me about. And there have been times where I have had to go ask forgiveness because of the way I so pharisaically pointed out someone else's sin. I mean, secretly, we hope the phylacteries we have bound to our "frontlets" (to borrow some KJV language) will cover up the telephone pole in our own eye, right? Or am I the only one who thinks that way? Hmmm, well, maybe.

So let's learn from Paul, when he wrote to the Galatians, "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted." (6:1)

Okay, ladies, go get the ointment and the bandages ready- it's bound to get messy!