Psalms 103:17,18

Motes and beams

Matthew 7:1,2,3,4,5 A “mote” is an irritation. It impacts what I do in my daily business, but it is not typically obvious to another. It is a flaw in character or spirit or behavior. A beam is clearly seen. It's a disability that shuts a person down. A mote or a beam symbolizes opinions, attitudes, ideas, feelings, or can be a physical condition.

Self-awareness

Becoming self-aware is a gift from God. It produces honesty, transparency, a willingness to suffer, and submissiveness. These characteristics all can be applied to other problems.

There is a difference between being forgiven and clean and being consecrated. When a problem arises, if I am not consecrated, the object of my desire will govern my behavior. My response to problems will reveal where my treasure is.

Self-awareness is a virtue. I know my strengths and weaknesses. I know what path I’m on. I know my personality. Lying to oneself or others produces a very uncertain existence. Most people want certainty and safety. Certainty comes from transparency. I know that God approves of me. I’m not hiding anything.

I may or may not know about my beam. I may rightly see a mote in another, but I do not have the right to point it out if I have a beam in my own life. I can make life unbearable for others by constantly pointing out their flaws while I diminish my own flaws. This is how a bully behaves.

The “bucket of life experiences” may contain things that can be triggered and result in an unpleasant reaction. I might not be aware a “beam” is in the bucket. I can either say, “I was justified in exploding” or “there was something I didn’t know was there and need to do work.”

Pride and humility

Pride or stubbornness will never remove a beam. Humility will allow the beam to be removed. It’s an act of courage.

Love vs punishment

Romans 12:20,21 When considering another's mote, err on the side of mercy, not punishment. Some people trust in punishment more than love. Mercy doesn’t mean “no accountability,” but love your enemy and trust the Holy Spirit.

Romans 3:4 I don’t have to be the judge of right and wrong. I don’t always get it right.

Matthew 5:38 In glorifying God I am to spread the gospel. Unifying God's people is an objective, but it’s not the end goal.

Matthew 7:24,25,26,27 I must do what I hear and understand. If I don’t use what I have been given, I am foolish.

Matthew 5:6 I must practice humility in the crisis; it must always be in place. Am I doing what delivers the promise?

As we age and mature and grow in grace we should be able to see motes and beams more clearly. What is my duty toward those that are younger? To act more like Christ.

Abraham and Isaac

Genesis 22:13 Until the moment of sacrifice, Abraham has a beam. It was Isaac. God was testing him to see if his treasure was in a heavenly place. It was only then that Abraham saw the solution. The altar can be the drama and trauma we or our loved one faces. God wanted Abraham to be present in the crisis, not to take Isaac off the altar. In the end, both Abraham and Isaac see the lamb (Savior).

The hope and comfort is that we serve a God of mercy who will ultimately save the object of my desire. I can trust God.