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Perceiving the wooden beam in my own eye

Ever since yesterday, I’ve been feeling uneasy. There is this thought that keeps disturbing my mind.

I think I have hurt someone’s feeling. And the fact that I have hurt people whom I love is even more painful to me. Besides, though it was unintentionally, I still feel very guilty, not just to  the person, but also to myself n God.

And today, I was again amazed by what God spoke to me. I was just randomly open the message of the online daily reading from The Upper Room. I’ve subscribed to it for a long time already, and I seldom read it anymore ever since I changed to reading WAU.org. And I was struck by what the Lord wants to remind me of through that email.

Why then do you judge your brother? Or you, why do you look down on your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend before me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.”

So (then) each of us shall give an account of himself (to God). Then let us no longer judge one another, but rather resolve never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; still, it is unclean for someone who thinks it unclean.

If your brother is being hurt by what you eat, your conduct is no longer in accord with love. Do not because of your food destroy him for whom Christ died.

Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to become a stumbling block by eating; it is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.

- Romans 14:4-21 -

I realize that I have been so judgmental and I often look down on the person. I think I have put a stumbling block between us and I have greedily eaten the food and wine of my own pride that have caused others to stumble.

“Who am I, that I dare to judge others? Am I that great as I person? Am I that good until I dare to criticize others? What do you think you are, when you stand before the Lord?”

And I was also reminded of the Gospel reading last week from Luke 6 : 41-42

“Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?

How can you say to your brother, ’Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?

You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.”

I think I should start reflecting on my own sins and weaknesses, and start asking the Lord for His mercy, before I start putting on the blame onto others.

Oh Lord, please forgive me for my sins, forgive me if I have ever been a hypocrite. And help me, O Lord, through the power of your Holy Spirit, so that I may remove the self-pride and arrogance in my heart. And may you heal any wound that I have caused. Amen.