"SHE CLOSED ONLY ONE EYE!"

[Pastor Bayo Afolaranmi]

Dearly Beloved,

"SHE CLOSED ONLY ONE EYE!"

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye" (Matthew 7:3-5 NIV).

Although it is not specifically stated in the Scriptures that we have to close our eyes when we are praying, but it has become a general norm. This norm made my five-year old son to accuse his two-year old sister immediately we finished our morning devotion one day that she closed only one eye when we were praying. The question that his mother and I asked him was that how did he know that she did not close her two eyes when we were praying. Definitely, he did not close his eyes when we were praying. He could not deny this fact.

This incident reminded me of the words Jesus Christ quoted above. Many people are quick to see the weakness and wrongdoing of others while they find it difficult to identify theirs. Actually, it is easier to see the faults of other people around us, but failure to see our own faults would be an act of hypocrisy.

Therefore, let us learn to always look inward to ourselves before we look outward to others to point an accusing finger for anything done wrong. Even when it is glaring that the other people are at fault, let us be slow and wise is pointing this out, remembering that we also are not perfect.

King David fell into this act of quick judgment when Prophet Nathan came to accuse him about Bathsheba affair. He was quick to see the wrongdoing of a rich man that had cheated a poor man, and even pronounced judgment on the rich man immediately. Nathan's response was,  "You are the man!" (2 Samuel 12:7, NIV).

Lord, help me to be slow to see the faults of others, but quick to see mine and even be ready to change my ways for good. Amen.

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

NB

This message was first sent on March 20, 2005.