Hypocrite

"How can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye;' and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Matthew 7:4-5

Jesus is very specific in describing judgmental people who focus more on other people’s flaws rather than their own. He calls them hypocrites.

That’s a tough word that some of us wouldn’t like to hear about ourselves. But is it fitting?

What would Jesus call you?

God bless,

J.W.

Walk The Plank

"Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?" ~ Matthew 7:3

It’s funny how people spend so much time criticizing others rather than focusing on how they can become better people themselves. The very people who have the most work to do on themselves are most often the first people to judge. In fact, their judgment often acts as a mask, a distraction to elevate themselves over others to avoid dealing with their own insecurities and flaws.

But if each of us would spend time asking God how we could be better people rather than focusing on how we can tear each other down, our lives and relationships would flourish. We wouldn’t have time to critique others because we’d be so busy critiquing ourselves; and we would become better people as a result. And becoming a better person would automatically make us better mothers, better fathers, better sisters and brothers, better friends.

So, are you focusing on your plank or somebody else's speck?

God bless,

J.W.

How Do You React To Criticism?

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." ~ Proverbs 1:7

How do you react when people criticize you?

Do you take it with a grain of salt? Heed their advice? Get defensive? Blow it off?

Make no mistake. Your reaction to criticism, discipline, and correction says a lot about you. I, for one, know that I need to work on how I react to criticism.

How do you react?

It just may be the very thing keeping you from accomplishing your goals.

God bless,
J.W.