Consider The Log

CONFESSION:

Good morning, my friend!  Good morning, Father!

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” - Colossians 3:12

Lord, no matter where we go on this little, blue planet, every single person is broken.  For some of us our brokenness is glaring and easily seen at a great distance.  For others, it is hidden, until the magnitude of our brokenness becomes so great that it breaks through on the surface of our lives, to the surprise of all around.  When we are faced with the sins of others, the tendency is to compare their sins with ours.  The sins of other can make us feel “better than,” “less than,” angry, hurt or concerned.  With that judgment comes a temptation to give up on others, that in our estimation are broken beyond repair.

Father, my heart is broken for the countless times we sinners, saved by grace, have deemed another struggling sinner beyond hope.  Many times we may have looked at other as considered them of little value or worthless.  Many times we may have looked upon an impoverished, disheveled soul asking for help, and we glanced away, unaware we were being given an opportunity “to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” - Hebrews 13:2.

Father, forgive us for our hubris in declaring anyone hopeless, when You have declared they have a future and a hope (Jer 29:11).  Forgive us for declaring them worthless, when  You call them precious and sacrificed the life of Your only begotten son to save them and call them Your own.  Forgive us for turning a blind eye and a deaf ear toward those whose sin make us feel superior or uncomfortable.  You remind me, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone.” - John 8:7 b (KJV)  We could be in their shoes were it not for Your grace, “It was not I who did it, but God’s kindness was with me.” - 1 Corinthians 15:10 (GW)  

Father, I lift my friend before You.  I pray for us both and for the Body of Christ.  Give us hearts of compassion, exuberant with grace and mercy.  Help us to give generously to those in need without expectation of receiving in return.  May our generosity be in secret, that our recognition and reward would come from You instead of from man.  Show us where our hearts have become hardened, and when we have mistakenly ascribed our holiness to something we have earned or accomplished, as opposed to the unmerited favor that it is.  Give us tender hearts infused with wisdom and discernment, that we might love like You do, and serve with a full heart, considering others more highly than ourselves.  Cause us to remember the wretchedness from which we came, and the wretch we would yet be, apart from Your grace, an apt reminder to remove the log from our own eye before offering to remove a brother’s speck.  Have mercy on us Lord.  And help us to use the same measure of mercy toward others that we would ask You to use toward us.  In Jesus Name ❤️