.....you

At the height of a political corruption trial, the prosecuting attorney attacked a witness.  "Isn't it true," he bellowed, "that you accepted five thousand dollars to compromise this case?"  The witness stared out the window, as though he hadn't hear the question.

 

"Isn't it true that you accepted five thousand dollars to compromise this case?" the lawyer repeated.  The witness still did not respond.

 

Finally, the judge leaned over and said, "Sir, please answer the question."

 

"Oh," the startled witness said, "I thought he was talking to you."

 

I seem to have the same trouble when I'm preaching.  Everybody thinks I'm talking to everyone else!  It's easy to listen to a sermon thinking, "Boy, I sure hope brother so-and-so is listening to this one!"  

It is crucial, though, that we listen to all messages that come from the word of God with the thought, "What does this have to say to me?" because only when I make personal application can I learn and grow.

 

"Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye?  Hypocrite!  First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Matthew 7:3-5

 

It's an important lesson. 

-alan smith