Google now has your search set up so that you get a small 4 picture preview of the image search of whatever you type in if it happens to be particularly visual. And truly in this case, I wish that weren't a thing because all I could remember to search that particular passage with was "splinter in eye". I'll spare you the details, but- gross! And that wasn't even the worst of it! Jesus described the man that focused on the splinter as having a log in his own eye! Come on, Jesus, I just had some of Peter's fish, and you know he's a questionable cook at best!
Isn't this so telling, though, of how God views it when we judge? He sees it as pretty gruesome behavior. He really doesn't like it, and to be honest, He thinks we look pretty foolish. I mean some guy walking around with a stake of wood sticking out of his eye decides to bother the guy who has a mere splinter in his. It sounds like a joke your uncle would retell every Thanksgiving.
So let's get into the meat of what's really going on here, because Jesus was trying to get our attention on this one. We all have things in our eyes. Let's be real. We are ALL in need of Jesus saving us. So why do we as the church seem so intent on making it incredibly clear which splinters we are okay with and which ones we are not? Are we too good for those who have birch splinters while we sit in church trying to see past out oak logs? And just as we have all sinned, I think we have all participated in the act of judging others. I have! I'll be the first to admit that I have and still struggle not to judge. It is so easy to do, and for a moment, it makes you feel a little better about your stake.
I have to actively watch myself, especially while I am driving. We are all human; we make mistakes, and when there are a lot of us in one place trying to accomplish our own tasks, the mistakes tend to multiply. So when I drive and someone does something like, drive in the farthest left lane under the limit, I am really tempted to comment on how annoying their splinter is to me right at that moment. Or when I am walking through Hobbie Lobby and some lady with a cart is actively ignoring you while taking up the entrance to the isle, it is really hard to hold onto the reigns of my mind and not mentally comment on how rude she is. Please tell me I'm not the only one here.
Ephesians 6:12 instructs me that in addition to my behavior being judgmental, it is also fruitless. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." Let's all take a deep breath and let that one sink in. If the being is made of flesh and blood, our struggle is not against them. So when we decide to take up arms against, get insulted by, or act judgmental towards another person, we are majorly wasting our time and energy. And not only is our time wasted, but we also are missing an opportunity to let God shine.
In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul describes to us a struggle that he had personally. He called it a thorn in his side, following in the footsteps of Jesus by grossing us out a little about a real issue. Paul didn't try to put on a pretty, thornless face, though. He was completely transparent. And after letting Corinth know that he was having this issue, he even goes on to say that he can brag about it. 2 Corinthians 12:9b, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." Wow! That gives me goosebumps to think that Paul, in his respected place in the church, was able to come out to the congregation and say, "Look guys, I know I have this thing going on. To be honest, it is a weakness. But I can boast about it because Christ's power rests upon me because of it!"
In that passage, it also talks about Paul asking God to remove the thorn in his side. I can relate to Paul so closely here. Some weakness that we have bring so much shame, that our response is to ask God to poof it away. But God, in His confounding wisdom tells Paul the last thing he wanted to hear. He told Paul no. But he also said, I'm going to do something even better. God finally said to Paul that "my grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness". Wow. Another goosebump verse. It just fills me to the brim with joy to be able to look in the face of my weakness and bad tendencies and see rather and opportunity for God's power to be made perfect. The Greek word used for "perfected" is teleó, and it means to bring to an end, complete, fulfill.
Friends, when we judge those who are "outsiders"- When we judge those who are trying to find a place, but don't act or look or talk as we do, we are stifling God's power in the church. Acting as if those who struggle are too weak to be a part of our congregation puts a cork in the faucet that God's power flows through. If you are praying for spiritual rain in your area- If you are praying for God's power to be seen, then get ready. Most likely God isn't sending a Mother Taresa or Billy Graham your way. Prepare yourself for the weak, because those are who God's power is fulfilled through.
And if we are honest with ourselves and put down the masks we avidly wear, we might see that we ourselves are but weak vessels waiting to complete God's power. And once more, if we let down our judgmental, spike filled vision and let ourselves be honest about our need for God, we could see God's power flow through our lives like never before. I have found deep liberation through being honest about my struggles rather than trying to fake it. The risk of being looked down upon is far outweighed by what God wants to do in you and through you. So lets war against those whom our struggle is REALLY with. Let's give 'em a run for their money as we put down judgement and pick up our weakness as a badge of honor and testament to the true greatness of out God.
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