Yank the Plank
Jesus gave an invitation to the multitude in The Sermon on the Mount. His invitation into the kingdom of God competed for their attention. It was diametrically opposed to the world’s invitation. The world says that you should judge others from a self righteous position of superiority.
However, in Matthew 7:1-5 Jesus said, “JUDGE not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote (splinter) that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam (the plank) that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
Jesus said, “yank the plank.” The plank is the two-by-four in your own eye. It is the plank of judgementalism. The three “C’s” that will kill a relationship are criticizing, condemning, and complaining. When we think we’re right and others are wrong, pride goes before a fall and a self righteous heart that looks down on others in self righteous judgment will kill any relationship. Jesus said, the way you judge others is the way God will judge you. If you accuse another of failing to meet a standard, do you yourself fall short of the same standard?
In Marriage Counseling sessions, Pete asks each spouse to list the things that the other spouse has done to offend them. One wife will wrote down three pages of things her husband had done that offended her. Pete said, “I’m sure that these things your husband did that have hurt you are true, but there’s one thing I’m most concerned about. It’s your attitude of criticism, judgement, and condemnation.”
Suzan, Pete’s wife made a deliberate effort not to offend her husband. She would say, “Please don’t get angry, but we need to talk.” She diffused Pete’s anger before she approached her husband with a word of reproof and correction. Humility and meekness is required before we can receive loving correction. Correction means to restore to an upright position. Come let us reason together, though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow.
The rules of the devil’s game of condemnation begin with critical spirt. A bitter heart spews hurtful words that tear down, deconstruct and destroy. A critical spirt focuses on how I’ve been wronged… how others have offended me. These malicious thoughts are earthly, selfish, prideful and devilish.
Peter asked Jesus, how many times should I forgive my brother? Shall I forgive him seven times? Peter thought that this would exceed the letter of the Law that said to forgive three times before exercising just retribution. Jesus said, don’t forgive him seven times, but seventy times seven. Paul said, as God has forgiven you, so also do ye.
If my heart is bitter because of unforgiveneess, then I need to forgive the other person. Otherwise the poison of resentment will infiltrate my heart. Resentment is like drinking poison and hoping that the other person will suffer the poisonous effects.
The devil’s job is to divide and conquer. Criticism divides us against others and feeds our fallen nature with the devil’s character of egotism, selfishness and pride. A critical spirit separates our hearts from God’s heart. For God did not send his son to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved.
Pete’s son Chris spoke about a season where he fell into depression. Even though he was pastor of a church in Scotland, his wife knew that her husband was oppressed by a spirt of anger and depression. Neither of them could determine the root of Chris’ anger. She prayed for her husband and then registered Chris for a Pastors’ Retreat. At the retreat, the first assignment was to make a list of each person who had made you angry. The second assignment was to write a letter of forgiveness to each individual. As Chris was writing the third letter, he heard God’s voice saying, “They didn’t do that to you, I did.” Chris prayed, “Father please forgive me.” Immediately Chris felt the weight of anger, bitterness and resentment lift. It was as if the heavens opened and he could see clearly again. At that moment he understood The Lord’s Prayer…. “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
When we understand the depth of God’s love and forgiveness for us, then we will have no trouble forgiving others. In our own power we do not have have the capacity to forgive. However, when we received salvation through Jesus Christ we were empowered with God’s Holy Spirit… we received the super-natural nature of of Christ. Even though the wages of sin is death, Jesus paid for our sin with the price of his own precious innocent blood…. For Jesus Christ who was without sin was made the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him. Having been born again, through the power of Christ in me… I forgave and set the prisoner free, only to find that the prisoner was me.
The world teaches us to seek just retribution. However, Thorough the power of the Holy Spirit, forgiveness, mercy, and the love of God triumphs over vengeance….
Destructive words from a vengeful heart tear down, and make enemies by causing strife and division. These are tools of the devil whose purpose is to steal, kill, and to destroy.
However, we are called into the unity of the spirit to build up… to edify one another in love.
1 Thes 4:10-12 says, Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
Hebrews 10:23-25 says: Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Why? Because as God has forgiven you, so also do ye… that we may build each other up, as members in the body of Christ, each a vital part according to God’s divine design perfectly working together, growing up and supporting each other in love for God’s glory…
That together we may live in the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace glorifying our Heavenly Father!
Your brother inChrist,
Michael
