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As Fran is getting ready to leave the office, who but Jack walks in. “Hi, Fran, how’s my sister in Christ today?”
Fran gives him a look that could kill. “You know, Jack,” she says, “it’s great to talk about your faith in Jesus openly like you do, but one thing I try to do is practice what I preach.”
“Yeah, me too, Fran,” Jack says, undaunted. “Gotta walk it before you talk it. Listen, we’re having a big concert at our church this weekend. I’ve invited the whole department, so try to make it, okay? See ya’, Fran,” and with that, he leaves.
Fran is steaming. “He’s invited the whole department—like he’s some great Christian. He’s just a big hypocrite, that’s all he is.” She grabs her things and leaves the office.
On the way home, the Spirit of God convicts her about the way she responded to Jack. She knows her attitude toward Jack is wrong, but she just can’t stand to see him behave the way he does and get by with it. She says to Jesus, “Lord, I love him, but….”
“But what?” she thinks.
In the quiet of the car, Fran begins to think how she acted like she was the perfect Christian and Jack was going to spoil all she’s done. And then actually being jealous because he invited the whole department, and she’s never had the nerve to do something like that. “Oh, Lord,” she says to Jesus, “You said to cast the plank out of my own eye before I look at the speck of sawdust in my brother’s eye (Matthew 7:3). I’m sorry.”
Immediately that inner peace comes. “Lord, please show me how you want me to respond to Jack. I’m ready to do it your way,” Fran prays.