“MICHAEL IS NOT SLEEPING!”

Dearly Beloved, “MICHAEL IS NOT SLEEPING!” “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, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye” (Matthew 7:3-5 NIV). My then four-year-old daughter did something funny one weekend. After we had had our lunch that afternoon, I ordered all the children to go and have their siesta. She is a type that finds it difficult to have siesta, so she went to her room reluctantly. After some minutes, she resurfaced in the living room where her mother and I were discussing. “Michael is not sleeping!” she said referring to one of her cousins that is living with us. Her mother and I wondered how she knew that somebody was not sleeping while she supposed to sleep. That might be one of children antics, but most adults do similar thing. They are ready to quickly point out the faults of other people while they are culpable of worse faults. Jesus Christ likened those people to hypocrites that have a plank in their eyes and try to remove just a speck out other people's eyes! Are you like that? Do you find it easy to see the faults of other people while you neglect your ow faults? If you are, then, you are a hypocrite! Yes, it is easier to see the faults of other people. However, it is better to first look inwardly and amend our ways before we look outwardly to correct other people. That is how we will not be hypocrites! In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray that you will not neglect your shortcomings while trying to focus on the shortcomings of other people. NB This message was first sent on August 26, 2007.