“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:11).

We think, “It is my job to expose the sin and error in my brother’s life, in the church, and in the world.” God says we are to investigate our own lives first: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you - unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5). We think it is our job to clean fish, but Jesus tells us that we are to follow Him and then He will make us fishers of men (Matthew 4:19). Physical checkups are of some value, but spiritual checkups are of greater value. We are to examine our own attitudes and actions toward others.

It is easy to see sin in my brother’s life. It is natural to justify my own sin. It is entirely supernatural for me to examine my own life and to receive God’s instruction and correction.

A critical, finger-pointing spirit brings much damage to the Body of Christ. Anyone can stand on the sidelines and hurl criticism. Our perspective and attitude changes when we get on the field and in the game.

Jesus tells us that we rationalize our sins by pointing out the same mistakes in others. What we oftentimes see as sin in our brother’s life is the resident sin within: “How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye” (Luke 6:42).

We must first cry out: “Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind” (Psalm 26:2). Then, and only then, are we able to expose the fruitless deeds of darkness around us and this not from a heart filled with anger, frustration, accusation and judgment, but from a heart of compassion, mercy, patient endurance and suffering – a heart of Christ-filled grace: “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

We cry out to God for help and we desperately desire Him to answer. God says: “Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk” (Isaiah 58:9).

The word IF stands between our cries for help and God’s answer. If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk THEN you will call and the Lord will answer. Then He will say, “Here I am.”

We are either building people up or we are tearing them down. If you are not on God’s side, you are on Satan’s side – there is no neutral ground. If you aren't actively for Christ, you are against Him: “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters” (Luke 11:23).

Our Lord Jesus tells us that what we say reveals what is really in our hearts. The evidence of being in Christ, of walking in the Spirit, is easy to see - it is someone whose life is characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control and who chooses to see the true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy in situations and in others. It is someone who understand what it means to: “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2).

Conversely, the evidence of someone who is not in Christ, not walking in the Spirit is equally obvious - sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy, drunkenness, orgies, and the like. The Apostle Paul writes, “I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:21). When we are not motivated by love, we easily become critical of others. We stop looking for good in them and see only their faults. Soon the unity of believers is broken, we begin talking behind someone's back, focusing on their shortcomings instead of their strengths. We must be constantly filled with God’s Holy Spirit and remind ourselves of Jesus' command to love others as you love yourself (Matthew 22:39).

Like a camera, you develop whatever you are focused on. What you put into your mind determines what comes out in your words and actions. If all we focus on is the negative, critical, and demeaning, that is precisely what we will become. On the other hand, if we focus on the lovely, uplifting, and encouraging, that is what we will become: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7).

We can't solve our heart problem by cleaning up our speech, masking over the problem, and pretending everything is ok. We must allow the Holy Spirit to fill us with new attitudes and motives; then our speech will be cleansed at its source. Jesus tells us, “You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:34-37).

We are not to hide the darkness within, but to expose it. For as long as darkness remains, darkness rules. We should not be concerned with how much of the Holy Spirit we have, but how much of us we allow the Holy Spirit to have. We are to submit ourselves daily to His leading, drawing continuously on His power.

Though I am on the journey, I am pathetically far from being Christ-like in every area of my life. Though there are portions of my heart that have been transformed, admittedly, there is far much more that has not been renewed - I am in desperate need of God’s grace and mercy. We must realize that no one is ever going to be perfect here on earth. As such, I must make a daily choice to accept and love others, especially those in the family of faith, in spite of their faults. When we see faults in others, we should be patient and gentle. Without reservation I can say that I have people who irritate and annoy me greatly, but instead of focusing on their weaknesses and faults, I choose to look inward first, asking God if that same fault is within me. Afterwards, I then begin praying for the other person. Instead of distancing myself from them, which is my natural response, I ask the Holy Spirit to bring me closer to them so that I can discover how I can value, appreciate and love them with the love of Christ. Instead of focusing on all that is wrong, I choose to find the good, otherwise, my heart is easily hardened and I am deceived: “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness” (Hebrews 3:13).

We must not have anything to do with sin. Jesus teaches us to befriend sinners and lead them to Him (Luke 5:30-32). We are never to condone the lifestyle of people who make excuses for bad behavior and recommend its practice to others - whether they are in the church or outside. Such people can quickly pollute the church and endanger its unity and purpose. We must befriend unbelievers if we are to lead them to Christ, but we must be very cautious of those who are viciously evil, immoral, or opposed to all that Jesus stands for. Such people are more likely to influence us for evil than we are likely to influence them for good.

We must understand that the Spirit of God is love, not religion. Jesus tells us that we cannot serve light and darkness, sin and righteousness, self and God. God’s light is in me, but so is darkness. That is why Jesus taught that the lamp is Christ; the eye represents spiritual understanding and insight. Evil desires make the eye less sensitive and blot out the light of Christ's presence. If we do not understand the message about the kingdom of God, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in the heart (Matthew 13:19). Jesus said: “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you" (Luke 11:33-36).

If the light of Christ is within me, my life hidden in Christ Jesus will bring conviction, not my words. It is Christ in me, the hope of glory - the outworking of my reasonable duty and service - that brings reproof. It is God’s kindness that leads to repentance (Romans 2:4).

What kinds of specks in others' eyes are the easiest for you to criticize? Remember your own "planks" when you feel like criticizing, and you may find that you have less to say. When you are tempted to compare yourself to others, look at Jesus and compare yourself to Him.

Grow in grace and truth,

Doug Morrell

CORE Notes From Doug