Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother\'s");
document.writeln("eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your");
document.writeln("brother, \"Let me take the speck out of your eye,\" when all the time there is a");
document.writeln("plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye,");
document.writeln("and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother\'s eye.1
If you have ever had a really close relationship with");
document.writeln("someone, you know that some important components of such relationship are to be");
document.writeln("authentic and build trust. People do not like fakes. They want to befriend");
document.writeln("people who are not afraid of being who they are, who are honest with themselves");
document.writeln("and others, and who take responsibility for their actions.
One of the biggest mistakes that many Christians make, is");
document.writeln("to believe that they need to have it all together, all the time. In their efforts");
document.writeln("to be the best Christian they can be, they begin hiding their flaws and hope no");
document.writeln("one will see them. Over time, they continue suppressing these flaws, telling");
document.writeln("themselves that all is good, but those flaws are never dealt with as they");
document.writeln("should. And although some have hidden \'planks in their eyes\', they");
document.writeln("believe that because they have hidden it so well, it now gives them permission");
document.writeln("to go pinpoint the mistakes their neighbor is making. This pattern of behavior");
document.writeln("is detrimental to their own spiritual health but is also an obstacle when it");
document.writeln("comes to building genuine relationships with other people. Others might feel");
document.writeln("inferior to some extent because they are struggling with real life problems and are looking for someone imperfect who is facing the same challenges, or who");
document.writeln("has faced them in the past and overcome. This type of Christian misses out on");
document.writeln("many opportunities to be as Jesus to others because they have not been real with");
document.writeln("themselves or with God.
Our stories are meant to be a blessing to others and be a");
document.writeln("tool God uses to bring people to Himself. Admitting that we are in different");
document.writeln("stages of our spiritual growth, and sharing our struggles, is a way to create accountability");
document.writeln("and trust. I am not saying you need to shout your flaws from the rooftops, but");
document.writeln("be aware of the people God brings into your life who need to see the real you\'¦ the");
document.writeln("good, the bad, and the ugly!
Suggested prayer: Dear God, thank you for the grace and");
document.writeln("salvation you have given me. I did nothing to earn or deserve it, yet you gave");
document.writeln("it to me anyway. Please use both my victories and mistakes to be a testimony to");
document.writeln("others. Help them find hope for their own faith journey and be drawn closer to");
document.writeln("you through my genuine words and actions. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.
1. Matthew");
document.writeln("7:3-5.
Today\'s Encounter was written by: Crystal B.
"); document.writeln("
This and other devotionals by Richard (Dick) Innes can be read online.
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