Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.”
~Luke 6:41-42
I was having coffee with one of my besties the other morning, and in the midst of some get-real, mat-carrier-level conversation, she dropped an eloquent statement I can’t get out of my head. In discussing our respective sanctification journeys, we recounted our similar strivings (and successes, praise God) over the years to be less pharisaical toward our brothers and sisters in Christ—that is, to put down the holiness-checklist clipboard as we worship, serve, live. She simply stated, “I used to keep rose-colored glasses on myself but have a magnifying glass on others.” (Not that either of us has “arrived”—as we won’t until glory.)
Can I get an “Amen”? I just loved her modern, relatable take on Jesus’ words about specs and logs (Luke 6:41-42; Matthew 7:1-5). And it got me thinking more about my own arc of sanctification as a 30-year follower of Christ: the initial “incomprehensible comprehension” that I didn’t have to work my way to heaven (I am paid in full), the continual unveiling of truth (and conviction) through God’s Word, and the steps of obedience (and some consequential disobedience) leading to ongoing refinement. Not a smooth ride, by any means, but generally up and to the right. Can you relate?
Because I was raised to be a perfectionist (therefore growing into a bit of a control freak), making sure I was doing everything “right” was a given…but so was making sure everyone else was too (and getting personally offended when those expectations were not met). Sadly, this quality bled into my Christian walk after a while. Like the Pharisees, it was easy to grab my proverbial magnifying glass to assess the sanctification walk of others. While I claimed God’s grace and forgiveness in my own fumbles and stumbles and learnings along the way, eventually it could be a thing for me to watch a fellow believer—who the Lord is refining in a unique way—and think, “I can’t believe they’re doing that as a Christian!” (You can probably hear the associated snort of disapproval.) Rose-colored glasses for me and not for thee.
Praise the Lord for His great mercy and peeling away of the flesh to continually reveal more of Himself, am I right? Don’t you love the way He smiles like the parent of a toddler being a toddler, gently (and sometimes not so gently) correcting and encouraging us? There’s conviction, repentance, and then continuing that up-and-to-the-right trek with perseverance in the Word and in relationship with Him. May we all be like the Apostle Paul, becoming more aware and repentant of our own besetting sins the longer we walk with Jesus.
But another way of dropping the magnifying glass (or rock, as the pharisaical case might be), is to immerse yourself in the life of new believers. If you’ve been a Christian for a minute, you know what I’m talking about. The newborn alive-in-Christ are filled with the awe of reconciliation with God through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. There’s that freshly felt freedom as the shackles of darkness dropped off. The palpable buoyancy of salvation joy. The recognition that their rebellion could not outpace God’s redemption. When they’re made a new creation, they’re given rose-colored (Blood-tinged) glasses of grace—seeing themselves, the world, and those in it from the Father’s perspective. It’s all so beautiful—and inspiring.
Oh, beloved, no matter how long you and I have been following Jesus, we must preach the Gospel to ourselves daily as a reminder of these truths. Like David, we must appeal to the Lord, “Restore to me the joy (and grace) of Your salvation!” Psalm 51:11-13. Let’s replace the clipboard-carrying for a sweet embrace—encouraging and edifying believers, praying for the lost to be found. Let’s drop the rock and recognize ourselves in the lives of other sinners. Let’s take the log out of our own eyeball before considering the speck in our neighbor’s. And let’s exchange the magnifying glass of judgment for goggles of grace.
Lord, thank You for the journey of sanctification—for continually making me more like Jesus as I walk in the direction of obedience to Your Word and will. Continue to refine me by extending the same grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love to others that You have given me.
