Devotional: Me versus Me

(Read Matt. 7:1-5) ‘“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye” (Matt. 7:5, NASB). As I was working out in the health and fitness center I looked up and saw a young man with a Tee shirt with an inscription on the front. It said “ME versus ME.” I asked the young man, what this inscription means. He replied, it means when I am working out it’s me against me. I am not competing with anybody else. It’s me and in everything in my life, it’s not me in competition with anybody. It’s me against me. I asked this young man about this inscription because in the past week our country has witnessed two African American men killed by the weapons of police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Minneapolis, Minnesota. This resulted in protest demonstrations in several cities. In Dallas, Texas a sniper shot twelve officer; wounding seven and killing five. Two civilians were injured also. Again, there is the call for coming together to discuss ways to solve the problems. A lot of people are being asked what they believe the solutions are. Both sides are being blamed by the other side. Who is right? My daddy would say to me very often, “two wrongs don’t make a right.” My life experiences suggest to me strongly that my daddy was right. I believe that this is the lesson that Jesus teaches us in this passage of scripture. We must be like the young man and say to ourselves, “Me versus Me.” I cannot judge another person with righteous judgment until I have judged myself. Thus, the police departments in this country must take a look at their policies and procedures and methods of handling potential hazardous situations. Civilians, regardless of culture must take a look at themselves. What behaviors will threaten police officers and ignite their fears causing them to violate the right of persons to live. How can we get the log out of our own eyes and judge righteously? The prophet Isaiah saw himself when he saw God (Isa. 6:1-5). Have you seen the Lord?