Have you ever caught yourself saying or at least thinking, “I would never …” ? I think when looking at the lives of other people, rather than our own (Matt. 7:3), we often are tempted by satan to think these thoughts. I know I am.
A post by Shane http://shanecoffman.blogspot.com/ (God works powerfully through him) brought these thoughts to my mind fresh again today. How often when I see someone in a struggle with a particular sin, a fight for their child, their marriage, their occupation, or even their life do I immediately conclude, “Well, if they just would have …” or “Well, if they just wouldn’t have …”. Satan tempts us to pass judgment on others constantly.
Surely this is why scriptures speaks so much to Christians about not judging one another (Matt. 7:1-2) and yet admonishes us to “carry each others’ burdens”(Gal. 6:2), “cover a multitude of sins with love”(1 Peter 4:8), die to ourselves and serve EVERYONE !! What would our world be like if our love was so great for each other that it literally suffocated and choked out the sins of others? What would our churches by like if that was how we treated our brothers and sisters in Christ? Please God, help me to learn to love more perfectly!!!
Matthew 7
(1)"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. (2) For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (3) "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?
Galatians 6
(1) Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. (2) Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (3) If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. (4) Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, (5) for each one should carry his own load.
1 Peter 4
(8) Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (9) Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. (10) Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. (11) If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Why do we do that to each other???????
Posted by Jeanne at 1:08 PM
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5 comments:
God is teaching me so much on this topic! We need to talk ;-)!!!
What?!? Two posts in two days?!? I'm impressed!!! ;-) It's good to have you back!
Excellent thoughts, my friend. I've been thinking and reading a lot lately about unity in the body of Christ. It is absolutely everywhere in the Word; and 99% of the time, it is directly linked to bringing glory to God. It seems to me that the judgementalness of Christians toward one another is one of the main things that tears at the unity of the body and, thus, detracts from the glory that is given to God through us. May we all make more and more of an effort to "love each other deeply." (1 Peter 4:8)
Wonderful post; our God speaks powerfully through you!
wow! two posts in two days. You've got me beat. I'll have to try and catch up. It's good to hear from u again! OH, and congrats on fifty! =D
So, I really loved reading your thoughts on this particular subject. It's something I've been thinking recently about myself. Way to often do I jump to conclusions and judge people. It actually remeinds me of a quote I heard yesterday... "You can't judge people by their actions and then judge yourself according to your intentions"...and that's what I've found myself doing. It's wrong and I need my God to guide me in the right direction, the direction of love. His perfect love that covers a multitude of sins. I need him to remind me that I'm nothing without him. May God show us all how to love so that he may be given the glory and so that the world will see him shining through his children.
Thanks for sharing. God works in mysterious ways through you. May his glory continue to shine.
Betty, Lindsay, and Hannah - thanks so much for not giving up on me and continuing to check my blog!
Betty - Me too! To quote my favorite preacher - "We're all still in kindergarten in learning about God!" I'm with you!
Lindsay - Are you sure you're not like 90+ yrs. old???? Your wisdom and insight into His word always blesses me!
Hannah - Another "old soul" of wisdom and insight packaged in the body of a teenager! I loved your quote: "You can't judge people by their actions and then judge yourself according to your intentions" May I quote you on that??? Actually, being an English teacher, I would like to also know who you quoted so I can quote it with the proper acknowledgement! I guess I'm an English teacher through and through! Haha!
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