October 30, 2026

Flag on the Play

Written by Keturah H · Garland Campus

Scripture

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 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.

Matthew 7:3-5 NIV

In football, when a referee sees a penalty, the whistle blows, and the flag comes out. Everyone waits to hear: Who was the flag on? Sometimes we live as though we are carrying our own set of penalty flags. We notice what someone else said, how they behaved, what they should have done differently, and we are ready to call the foul. But Jesus asks us to look in an unexpected direction at ourselves. What if, before throwing the flag on someone else, we asked, “Lord, is there a flag on the play for me?”

Jesus isn’t teaching us to ignore wrongdoing. He is teaching us to begin with humility. Before focusing on the speck in another person’s eye, He tells us to recognize the plank on our own. Jesus knows how easily we can see another person’s shortcomings while missing our own. Yet, He doesn’t expose our hearts simply to shame us. He calls us toward truth, repentance, grace, and a life transformed by Him.

Before calling someone else’s penalty today, examine your own heart. Is there unforgiveness, pride, impatience, bitterness, or an attitude you need to surrender to God? And remember: a flag on the play doesn’t mean the game is over. The penalty is acknowledged, the correction is made, and the game continues. When Jesus reveals something that needs changing, receive His grace, make the correction, and keep moving forward with Him.

Prayer: Jesus, help me examine my own heart before judging someone else. Show me what needs to change and give me humility to receive Your correction. Thank You for Your grace when I fall short. Help me extend that same grace to others and keep following You. Amen