I was reflecting on the Law of Reflection…
“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” Luke 6:41
I think one of the greatest reasons we don’t notice the log in our own eye, is that we don’t take time to reflect, to look for the log. We don’t ask the Lord on a daily basis to search our hearts and show us the wicked ways in us (Psalm 139:23-24, (“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”). Good leaders ask great questions. We should be asking ourselves questions during our reflection time every day…
- Who did I offend today? Either intentionally or unintentionally.
- Who offended me today, and what must I examine in my own heart before deciding how to respond?
- Who needed my help today and I was not able or not willing to help?
- Where was I not careful with the truth?
- Where did I judge someone too quickly, too harshly, or without enough understanding?
These are just some thoughts that I have—you need to come up with your own list based on your personality and who you are and what your needs are. God is clear that we need to ask Him to search our hearts. That means that we don’t know. Scripture says that our hearts are deceptively wicked and therefore can’t always be trusted. In order to lead ourselves and others, we need to spend serious time in reflection. Not to beat up on ourselves, but Godly examination and honest self-examination aimed at making changes in our style to better lead ourselves and love, lead, and help others. Spend some good time reflecting on God‘s call to Love HIS way in Luke 6:27-36, which ends with this- “…and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”
Walk with the King today. I love you.
End Note
The Law of Reflection referenced in this article was developed by John C. Maxwell and is presented in The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth. Its central principle is that learning to pause allows growth to catch up with us. Experience alone does not necessarily produce wisdom. We grow when we intentionally examine our experiences, ask what God is teaching us through them, and apply what we learn to the way we live and lead.