Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Specky Lil' Speck

"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, `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 6:41-42 (nlt)

I think it's really amazing that some people just don't see themselves. They are people who "..like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like." James 1:23-24 (niv) They are people who say one thing but doesn't even do it themselves. They just move their mouths (for the deaf, hands) but do not even do it themselves (action). In the same book, James argued that "..faith without deeds is dead." James 2:26 (niv) They are unfaithful people with a huge "log" in their eye picking on the faithful with only a speck in his/her eye. Man! It's annoying to go through this and often times it is hurtful. Those with a "log" in their eye will always have a hard time admitting they have a "log" but constantly denies they have it and begins to point finger at those with "specks". They are nothing but talkers, whiners, complainers, and critical toward others. Their words are nothing but empty words. The "loggers" will continue to defend themselves that they ever have a "log"! That makes our relationship with them much harder because "pride" and "humble" do not mix! So what do we do?

Until God ordains otherwise, every person ought to bear patiently whatever he/she cannot correct in himself and in others. Consider it better thus - perhaps to try your patience and to test you, for without such patience and trial your merits are of little account. Nevertheless, under such difficulties you should pray that God will provide the help so that you can bear them calmly.

If, after being admonished once or twice, a person (logger) does not change, do not argue with him/her but commit the whole matter to God that His will and honor may be furthered in all His servants (He's the J-man!), for God knows well how to turn evil to good, even will judge those who do evil on the last day!

Try to bear patiently with the defects and infirmities of others, whatever they may be, because you also have many a fault which others must endure. If you cannot make yourself what you would wish to be, how can you bend others to your will? We want them to be perfect, yet we do not correct our own faults. We wish them to be severely corrected, yet we will not correct ourselves.

Their great liberty (prideful denial) displeases us, yet we would not be denied what we ask. If all were perfect, what should we have to suffer from others for God's sake? But God has so allowed, that we may learn to bear with one another's burdens, for there is no man without fault, no man without burden, no man sufficient to himself nor wise enough.

Therefore, we must support one another, console one another, mutually help, counsel, and advise, for the measure of every man's virtue is best revealed in time of adversity - adversity that does not weaken a man but rather shows what he is.

Then, Lord willing, the "Loggers" will possess specky lil' speck in their eye because they have allowed God to destroy their prideful denial and humbled them before others! For those who loves to "show and talk", be sure to look at themselves first. Are you a strong example to others before God? Do you commit wholeheartedly and faithfully to the service of our King? Do others look up to you and respect you because you work hard for the Lord? If one person suggest something before the church such as be faithful to Sunday's services but he/she doesn't attend faithfully, they are classified as a "Logger"! Be careful what you say because others are watching you and your example!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Mark,

We don't need more stone throwers at church!

We need to be humble, patient, gentle with each other. We also need to put up with each other's faults because of our unconditonal LOVE. We need to pray God to cooperate with our Holy Spirt and help us unite together peacefully.
Ephesians 4:1-3 (LFB)

God said in Colossians 3:12..we need to clothe ourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. We need to forgive others as God forgave us (v.13)
LOVE (v.14) is our first and important piece of our clothing then it binds us all together in perfect harmony. Importantly, we need to let the peace from Christ rule our hearts. We always need to be thankful (v.15).

Mark Lowenstein said...

Whoever this is, I agree that we must be humble in heart, merciful and kind to one another. If you haven't carefully read all my blog regarding, "Specky Lil' Speck", you're jumping into conclusions.

Didn't Jesus warn us that there will be people with "logs" and "specks"? Didn't He quote this in the Scriptures? Didn't He say that there will be "HYPOCRITES"? If you're calling me a "stone thrower", you're calling Jesus one!

I don't judge for there is a Judge (John 12). Those with "Logs" may have problems with the term, "authority" because of their pride. They do not want to hear things from Christ Himself.

Now, as for your comments implying that I "don't" give compassion and humility, you're wrong. Read the next paragraph after, "Their great liberty (prideful denial)..: "Try to bear patiently with the defects and infirmities of others, whatever they may be, because you also have many a fault which others must endure. If you cannot make yourself what you would wish to be, how can you bend others to your will? We want them to be perfect, yet we do not correct our own faults. We wish them to be severely corrected, yet we will not correct ourselves." Isn't this another way to be compassionate with the "loggers"? Didn't Jesus say those with "logs" examine themselves and get rid of it? What about 2 Timothy 3:16? What about Matthew 18? I can tell you tons of verses involving removing the "logs", "yeast".

Also, Jesus told the story about the Parable of the Talents where a master gave three men talents according to their abilities. The first two men did what their master told them but the last man didn't because he knew his master was a hard man. The master didn't like it and threw him out into everlasting fire. Jesus was telling this parable in connection with His Father in heaven.

I am being very patient with you. Why are you hiding behind the "anonymous" name? I pray that the Lord will guide you into understanding this blog and begin "living daily" for Him! I don't know what kind of example you ensample before God among us.

Anonymous said...

Mark,

Being a stone thrower is my own definition for someone who is a "slinger". We don't want to be a slinger who contaminate our faith or the faith around us. Once, we spend our time with God and He will fill us with Holy Spirit for any hindances or obstacles or any mistakes that get in the way of our relationships with others. (2 Kings 3:25 and Pslam 63:1-3)

Another way of defining the slinger is that someone who accuses or criticizes or is faultfinding at others. We want to recognize that we don't want to become one and don't want slingers in our life.

I am not talking to you, I mean whoever starts the fire, needs to confront others instead of pouring out his or her problems to you. You need to encourage that person to confront others. In the Bible, I have tried to look for a verse and I could not find it. Whoever is a logger, needs to be confronted by specky. Then they can make amends and forgive each other. If not, a confronter needs to call two other brothers to help him to solve the problem. We need to see more of that more often. I noticed you rebuke a lot, but it does not mean you are wrong. You do what Jesus did. I suggest you to encourage others to rebuke others; not just you!

Importantly, whenever we have problems with others, we keep ourselves off ourselves and our problems and fasten ourselves firmly on Jesus and His power. Jesus already knew what is wrong with us and is willing and is able to change us that need to be made in ourselves and our life (Hebrews 12:2)

You know that all of us are sinners who fall short of God's glory. I don't deny the problems or weaknesses that I have so I can depend everyday on God. That is why we have the Lord in our life!
HOW? Prayer is the key when we want to change (Mark 11:24), but if I don't, the problems or weaknesses I have, will remain the same.

"Whatever is true, whatever is worth of reverance and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is any worthy of praise, I will think on and weigh and take account of these things." I can't find the verse, but another verse says "out of the fullness (the overflow, the superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things." (Matthew 12:34-35) We all are encouraged to look at a couple of verses often for our reminders.

Praise God that we have problems or needs so we can improve ourselves. I am glad I am not perfect because God is my Deliverer! He is ABLE!

We should be grateful and thankful that we are not where we used to be, but we have not arrived at the point where we are completely perfect until Jesus comes back on the earth for the last time. (Philippians 1:6)

PRAY, PRAISE, NEEDS/PROBLEMS! Pray to God, we praise ALOT before we express our frustrations and our thoughts, and our hearts.(Psalm 68:29)

Remember, "let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not". (Galatians 6:9).

In Psalm 23:6, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
All of us are sinners as long as we have God in our life. Thanks God for his mercy and his goodness.

Sorry to keep you in the dark. Your mystery correspondence,
Sherlocky Holmes