For a couple of weeks, I noticed that the water coming from the showerhead was becoming increasingly less. It got to a point where we wondered if there was a water lock off as the flow was reduced to a trickle.  Simultaneously though we noticed that the bottom tap was flowing at full speed doing the same period.  We eventually came to the conclusion that there must be a problem with the showerhead.  Sometime later my husband screwed off the showerhead and low and behold, there it was: this very small thing doing us such a great disservice. It was a pebble that had come up through the pipelines and had caused the blockage to the water supply in the showerhead.

The difference was so clear.  Prior to the removal, there was a trickle of water and afterwards the water flowed at full speed enabling us to enjoy the nice cold showers that we were accustomed to.

In the Scriptures, Matthew 7:1-5, Jesus points out the importance of removing the log in our eye that affects our ability to make the proper assessment about others, that is, seeing and functioning effectively. To some a log might seem a little impossible, but think back to when you last had something caught in your eye. Didn’t it feel uncomfortable and prevented you from seeing effectively?

Sight is a recurring theme in the Scriptures.  We read of blind men being given back their sight.  Additionally, there are prayers asking God for sight and insight so that persons will be able to take the right actions:  “Open you my eyes…pray the eyes of your heart may be enlightened….We don’t know what to do but our eyes are on you”(Psalm 119:18/Ephesians 1:18/2 Chronicles 20:12).  Like the pebble in the showerhead, oftentimes our false judgements and measurements about others, block us from functioning at our best.  We are so concerned about the other person’s shortcomings that we fail to recognise that we are guilty of larger problems and are increasingly becoming ineffective ourselves.

So Jesus turns the searchlight on us today.  In what areas are we becoming increasingly ineffective?  What is it that is affecting our ability to flow fluently? How has this problem become a blockage to us obtaining spiritual insight and us being a blessing to others instead of a pain?  Are we focusing on the vision problems of others instead of on ourselves? Are we trying to change others instead of the man in the mirror, aka me?

The warning from the Scriptures is quite clear.  If we don’t address the blockage, we will become less and less effective in the kingdom of God as well as bring judgement down on ourselves.  Verses 1-2 in Matthew 7(ESV) put it even more bluntly: “Judge not, or you will be judged. For with the measurement you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measurement you use it will be measured to you.

So what will it be today?  Will you continue to function like an ineffective showerhead slowly grinding to a halt or will you seek the assistance of Jesus to remove the blockage so that sight and insight will flow again.  Remember that Jesus said in verses 7- 8 of the same chapter “Ask, and it shall be given…for everyone who asks receives”. So why not ask today.

Father, we thank you for showing us ourselves.  We don’t like what we see Lord: we are so blocked up with things that hinder us, we have become ineffective.  Search us and try us and see if there is anything in us that shouldn’t be there. Take them out right now, forgive us and purify our hearts and minds so that we can once again be what you have called us to be.  We ask this in Jesus’ name.  Amen.