Why do some people only see, or choose to only focus on the mistakes a person makes? Why do some take on the role of a Levitical priest searching for the scabs that can disqualify a person from the sheepfold? These leprous spot hunters seem unhappy if they cannot find a scab to pick off of the character of the person they are judging. Doesn’t love say to look for the best in each other? 1Cor. 13:7a Love bears all things regardless of what comes, believes all things looking for the best in each one. Shouldn’t we try to clean up the boards in our eyes before we judge other’s scars and scabs? Matt. 7:5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

       I was talking with a brother in the Lord who was criticizing a few ministries because these ministers did not believe the exact way he believed. This brother was continually picking at everything these ministers were saying and doing. I said, “How can you nullify their total ministry because of one view of doctrine (not affecting salvation in Christ) that you do not agree with?” I said, “They are not teaching another way of salvation outside of Jesus. They have a difference in how they pray during water baptism. How can you be so put out with that?” I realized that picking scabs on others had become this person’s pastime. I find this attitude to be the reasoning behind those who insist on justice in all situations while grace remains in the background only to be called upon when the person judging needs mercy.

      The wounds we acquire, as we walk toward our eternity, are many. Why add to the burden of someone’s life who is walking at a different pace or level of maturity in their faith than you are? We all seek and need mercy but we are too fast to dispense and demand justice. When we are all standing before the Lord on that great day, I am sure we will all be pleading the blood of Jesus so that the full measure of God’s mercy will be poured out on us. I’m convinced you will not be demanding that justice be used to judge your life in the same way you demanded justice toward everyone you met. Hos. 10:12 Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you. Yes, Lord, pour down YOUR righteous grace on me, and not the justice I deserve.

      When I catch myself picking scabs, I quickly start looking at the root of these thoughts that have made their way to the forefront of my mind. I ask myself, “Am I being honest in my evaluation, or am I being petty? Is what I’m thinking coming out of a spirit of offence, or am I picking up something in the spirit that I am to pray about?” It is easy to start following the crowd if we do not take captive the thoughts that flow through our minds and hearts. One minute the people are singing “Hallelujah in the highest,” and the next minute the same people are screaming, “Crucify Him!” Who do you want to be, the singer, or the screamer? James 3:10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening?

      As long as we are on this side of eternity, there will be an ample amount of scabs to pick from the people of this earth. We are never going to get it all right all the time. Without Jesus guiding our thoughts and hearts we will be plagued by the leprosy of man’s filthiness. It was at the cross where Jesus was nailed that our sicknesses, diseases, and leprous thoughts were nailed with Him. We now have the Holy Spirit who comes and convicts us of the sins that must be cleaned up with the blood of Jesus. Our Saviour, Jesus, is our high priest who is the only one who determines our cleanliness of heart. Heb. 4:14 Therefore having a great high priest having passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, we should hold firmly to our confession.

       Lev. 13:2 When a man has on the skin of his body a swelling, a scab, or a bright spot, and it becomes on the skin of his body like a leprous sore, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests. It is the Lord Jesus who now inspects us and declares us to be the righteousness of God in Christ, and leads us to His pasture. As the Lord puts His hands on our lives to heal and cleanse us from the scars, rashes, and spots of sin, we can now walk in the fullness of His righteousness. Let us remember that we are all headed toward eternity and instead of picking each other apart, let’s pray honourably for each other to finish the race God has set before us. Heavenly Father, thank you, for your grace.