A LITTLE THING CAN DO YOU IN -- Devotional for September 7, from "Good Seeds"

Consider how a willful horse can be directed by just a small bit placed in its mouth; consider how a mighty ship, driven by powerful winds, can be steered by a tiny rudder; the tongue is one of the smaller members of the human frame, yet consider what it can boast; consider how great a forest can be set aflame by the tiniest spark; consider the miniature mustard seed, which when planted, can grow into a tree large enough to be home for many birds; consider telling your friend, “Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,” when you can't see past the log in your own eye? (James 3:3-5; Luke 13:19; Matthew 7:4-5)

A favorite theme throughout Scripture is the significance of small things. When we receive a tiny wrapped gift our friends say, “That’s got to be something wonderful, for ‘good things come in small packages!’” Jesus equated both the Kingdom of God and the faith of a man to the tiny seed of the mustard bush, saying, “Look what a wonderful future, and what wonderful miracles, are in store for those who start out with the right stuff, no matter how small!” James continues this thought: “Isn’t it amazing that we can control a powerful horse – or a powerful sailing vessel – with just a small directional device!” But then he turns the coin over to show us what powerful devastation can come from something just as small: a little match struck by someone bent on destruction; or, the human vocal mechanism under the direction of anything but the Spirit of God, resulting in the greatest of hurt and harm. And Jesus spoke of a speck in the eye. Ever had one of those? “Stop the presses!” we say. Indeed, stop the world, for life cannot continue, for us, or anyone around us, until we get that thing out! Jesus continues, “Why do you think you could do or say anything helpful to man or glorifying to God while in such a state of personal emergency!” Here’s another story from our own history illustrating this same truth: We’re working in the shop, or the woodpile – or wielding a shovel with a worn handle – and suddenly a tiny sliver of wood penetrates our finger. Try to go on in your work! Try to ignore the pain, whether searing, or just irritating. Now, compare that sliver in your finger to the sin in your soul. Even the tiniest splinter interferes with anything good you might want to think or say or do. You think you can manage the irritation or learn to live with it, but a splinter – and sin – refuses to be ignored! It will come back as an infection. You’ve got to deal with it, before it does you in! And when you do, when you get that thing out, it is amazing how quickly the pain subsides. Who wants to live with splinters – or sin – in his life? Not me!