“Not A One & Done”

Most of us have heard the phrase, “one and done….. doing something, only once and never again”. In 2006, it became a popular phrase in regards to young basketball stars spending one year in college and then going to the N.B.A. (professional league)…. they were “one and done”. 

Without thinking too much about it, I can apply it to my own life. My “one and done” can be in regards to a trip or a diet or even my fight against the wages of sin….”been there , done that”….I’m finished with that….. “one and done”…. hmmmm.

I was recently reading the parable from Luke 6, where Jesus chastises his disciples….“ 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 6:42) The Lord is making an important point …. being a hypocrite is not good. 

But what hit me was that getting the LOG out of my eye is not a “one and done”. I may remove one LOG and begin to see more clearly to help someone else, but before I know it, another LOG shows up in my eye…. yikes. Because I was convicted of my own sin (my own LOG) doesn’t mean I’m now perfect and can judge everyone else. 

If anything, seeing my own LOG should help me to be more compassionate and merciful to my brother. I hopefully realize that I’m a sinner in need of mercy so I’m now able to show compassion and mercy to my brother. If anything we should love more because we have been forgiven much. Jesus said “remember therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” (Luke 7:47)

So, let’s be on guard for the LOG in our own eye. Let’s ask the Lord to remove it….. perhaps daily ….., and then we can hopefully help our brother get rid of his splinter. And that is really good news.