5-17-2014

Good Morning All,

         Matthew 7:3; “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” 

        Why is it that the smallest things seem to annoy us the most?  Why does the drip, drip, drip of the faucet sound so loud at 3:00 am?  Why does a fly buzzing and flying into a screen sound like someone does is beating a drum?  Why do these little minor events cause us such major distress?  We are such creatures of the infinitesimal; we truly make mountains out of molehills.

   We find ourselves doing it so often; it might be with a work colleague, it might be with a fellow church member or it may be with one of your family; we pick the smallest thing and obsess about it and let it fester and let it build up to something larger than necessary.  Some may call it nagging someone, others may call it nitpicking but whatever you call it; it is very destructive to our relationships.

    One thing that makes this so destructive is that it has a downward spiral effect.  Once you begin to harp and nag it can be very easy for the other person to respond in kind.  Soon the speck in our neighbor’s eye become logs on our own.  We look at the speck and we think “I hope God changes him soon.”  We look at others and decide which, how many and where these “specks” seem to be the “logs” that we imagine.  If only God would fix all the people who need help.  Yet do we ever include our self in that prayer?

    God uses his Spirit to give us some chances to change our “log” out.  First, our best response is always prayer.  We need to ask God to control our tongue and to control our thoughts.  We need to ask God to forgive us and to change us and not them.

    Focus on the positive and not the negative.  Listen to what is being said by your colleague or family member.  Listen not with just your ears but listen with your heart as well.  Hear what they are saying and not just the manner in which it is said.

    If you are being tempted beyond your tolerance, leave; quietly excuse yourself.  Say you need the bathroom; whatever it takes to break the cycle and the spell.  If the devil starts working on you, move away so it isn’t so easy to play on your feelings.  Make a change; move around, change the subject, drink so water, do something to change the action.

    Finally, recognize that the only thing you can ever change is you and the way that you respond to the events around you.  God calls us to be loving and compassionate people.  He calls us to act with love.  He calls us to treat others as we would have them treat us.  This should be our goal, this should be our aim.

Father, forgive me for all the times that I have focused on the speck in my brother’s eye.  Forgive me for when I complained or attacked.  Guide me by your Spirit to love as you love.  Help me to reconcile with those whom I have hurt.  Help them to forgive me for the anguish I cause.  Lead us to be the loving and compassionate people that you desire us to be.  In the precious name of Jesus, our risen Savior we pray, amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret