414. The Log in My Own Eye

Dear Father, I mourn tonight because an immoral man or woman has been given authority in my community. I am deeply saddened that my neighbors would give power to a person of such moral depravity. I fear what this person will do with power. If they don’t have a moral foundation, they could conceivably do all kinds of evil things. I share my concerns with my friends on social media. I participate in protests. I hold candles at vigils. I sign petitions to remove this person from power.

However, what does my own heart look like? Do I mourn the depravity in my own life? Do I get angry about my own moral failures? Do I belittle the seriousness of my own rebellion from you? Do I permit myself to doubt You and worship other gods? Am I blind to the log in my own eye as I fear the splinter in this authority figure’s eye? Father, may I not be a hypocrite. I have no legitimacy to mourn the moral failures of someone else when I fail to surrender my life to You. Please forgive me for my hypocrisy. I confess my rebellion from You. I repent. I surrender. May the Holy Spirit transform my heart and soul so that I demonstrate the fruits of the spirit. Then, and only then, I can mourn the moral failures in others. Amen.