[This reflection by Dennis Ginter was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 18/Jan/2026]
Martin hit a raw nerve during his teaching last Sunday. As he explored how we all tend to do what Jesus called ‘drawing attention to the speck in someone else’s eye while ignoring the plank in our own’, I found myself feeling very uncomfortable!
I’m quite sure the Holy Spirit has been challenging me all week. There are several topics on which I have very firm opinions – so firm that, at my wedding, my best man compared me to a dog with a bone between his teeth. I’d like to think that I’ve read and thought (and prayed?) about that controversial issue, and come to my conclusion. And any other way of seeing it is simply WRONG!
One consequence of this stubbornness is that with close friends, even my wife – some topics of conversation become out of bounds. We end up talking about ‘trivial stuff’, while I itch to get around to what’s really on my mind … like the latest Trump news! Is it best not to mention it?
I’m quite sure that Jesus wants my relationships to be loving, real … not walking on egg shells! I also realise that it might not be easy to get there.
Am I the only one who’s a little nervous about where this teaching series is going? I was planning to go elsewhere this Sunday but – at the last minute – I’ll be here listening to whatever comes up next. Does s(S)omeone else rearrange my plans?
Blessings, Dennis
Resources:
[1]
Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.
Bible dates:
Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.
Horley Baptist Church onlineHBC main site
Confidential prayer link
Link to Recent Reflections
.
Link to Index of Bible Passages
Last Sunday’s reflection: Working On Grace by Dazz Jones
Contributed by Dennis Ginter; © Dennis Ginter