Give us clear vision

"How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Luke 6:42 NIV

In a recent article titled, "A Trail Runner’s Confession: Five Things Trail Runners Need To Do to Be Safer and More Polite Trail Partners," Joe Loveland wrote: We runners and walkers are an awfully self-righteous breed. We love to criticize the manners of cyclists on area trails, with some justification. But maybe, just maybe, we should look in the mirror before we start hating on others. After acknowledging that he might be guilty of doing the very things he finds fault with in others, Joe gave five suggestions for making the trails safer and friendlier, including ditching at least one ear bud and acknowledging passers.

You know, the Bible also talks about our finding fault with others when we, ourselves, are guilty of doing the very same thing we fault them for. Think about it. How quick are you and I to judge or chasten a person for their impatience when we ourselves are impatient? Or to admonish a brother or sister for their uncontrolled anger when we secretly harbor indignation ourselves? Luke totally understood our tendency to see other peoples' faults while remaining blind to our own and so warned us to "first take the plank" out of our own eye that we might "see clearly to remove the speck" from our brother's eye.

So today, may you and I vow to focus on our own faults and shortcomings and the changes we need to make before focusing on those of others. After all, as Henry Ward Beecher wrote, “You and I do not see things as they are. We see things as we are.”

Heavenly Father, help us to recognize those times when we are quick to judge others and offer advice on how to "fix them" when we do the very same things. Help us to look at ourselves in the mirror with a clear view of the way You see us that we might change the habits and thoughts that are not pleasing to You. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Search me Lord - Donnie McClurkin

https://youtu.be/RLH808hnGAo