Today’s devotion was written by our brother Josh.

Something that I often miss when reading this scripture is the comical imagery that Jesus tries to convey where He tells us to look and focus on the log in our own eye rather than the speck in our friends.

So imagine that for a second, a log literally being in your eye. It’s ridiculous, right? It’s not only there and used for comic effect to convey how silly this would look in general, but more so the overall point is for us not to overly focus on other’s issues when our own is so huge too. This is so we can be humble when trying to compare to one another.

Maybe when thinking about our own issues we can become prideful in thinking, I am not as bad as those around me! We could be fooled into thinking because I don’t drink, smoke, swear, sleep around I am good in God’s eyes – right? Wrong, as God sees our sins as the same, not just those based on the outward appearance that normally is more to do with family and societal pressures rather than God’s own standard. We are only deemed righteous because of Jesus and the trust, belief, and hope that we have in Him.

We all fall short and we are all in need of Him. We do not look good in God’s eyes because of what we do for Him but because of what He did for us and what He continues to do in us through the work of the Holy Spirit.

However, although this part of the Scriptures is often remembered, it was the latter part that spoke out for me this time around. The scripture where Jesus says:

“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.” – Matthew 7:5 (NLT)

When reading the scripture again it reminded me of how we need to clean up our own mess before we can then focus and help others to clean up their mess too. How we need to work on getting rid of the log in our eyes before we can even think or even be able to see well enough to deal with the issues and sins of those with our friends.

It’s only by focusing on the log in our eyes and in our own lives that we can deal or the speck of others’ eyes. The Scripture allows us to have the right perspective on looking at other people’s mistakes, shortcomings, and sins that they may be struggling to overcome. Where it’s the one at hand in our own life that I should be focusing on the most before dealing with others.

Therefore, it is important not to be hypocritical, but instead be humble and take a look at ourselves in the mirror and change that person we see first before we try to change others.

So I challenge us to take a close look at the log in our own eyes so that we can remove that first, along with any other issues before focusing on the speck of others.

It’s only Jesus that truly sets us free and it’s only by trusting, believing, and most importantly in allowing Him to continue that change in us, where we can work with him that the true change will come about anyway.

Realising that our identity, hope and salvation, and true-life are with Him and in allowing Him to be further glorified in our lives because of his ever-present good work in us and others is what He’s truly looking for. I pray for us then to know what Jesus meant by true judgment, where its focus should be, and what he truly wants for us.

In Jesus’ name, Amen!

For more information about this teaching I’d recommend watching this too: