One of the quickest ways to discredit our integrity is to, simply open our mouths! The world judges us by what we look like, what we do and most important by what we say. Not one of us deserves to be placed upon a pedestal, as moving closer, they will begin to see the frailty in our hearts that our words have sown. For them to still love us, can only be in Christ. Misunderstanding is an understatement. Opening our mouths is such an easy thing to do and unless our words are laced with God’s love, we grieve The Holy Spirit and find they fall upon dry ground.
Harmful words make us weak, not strong. They destroy the very cause you aimed to achieve.
I would personally love to be able to say that I have never spoken an ill word in anger or in retaliation. But that would be a lie. It would nice if I could say, I have never hurt a person with my words, judged or murmured against another, their ministry or denominational beliefs, but I cannot say that either. I am guilty. But, the difference with being guilty and being set free in Christ; is making a decision to repent. But, “they are wrong” you say.” I ask you, “Have you ever been wrong? and “Do you know the hearts you have judged?” Is not judgement up to God and not us? If they are in error, they will entrap themselves and God will be faithful to correct them. Like He does us! That is one of God’s brilliant principles of sowing and reaping.
I prayed that God would open up my eyes and show me what I needed to see because in order to “let go and move past” the cause of dissension, I needed some understanding.
Then I received these words, “God uses the very offenses we given and received by others to activate the truth we’ve stored up inside of us; for us to pause and see the self-righteousness, we ourselves are still carrying around.” Pride responds through contention.
In other words, when we are offended by something a brother or sister says, and we begin to talk against them, we place ourselves to be judge and jury by our prideful attitude. it is time to examine our own hearts and not others.
Offenses will come, not because they were wrong, but so we can clean up our own house. Whether you believe the offense was right or wrong is between him and God. Have you prayed for those you spoke against? Have you approached them in love? The need to publicly crush another’s character is not from the Holy Spirit. We see this in the world all the time, but it should not happen within the Body of Christ. We see the disunity of the spirit of division when churches split because of disagreements and there remains a silent form of un-forgiveness. Then, another group is formed, in Christ’s name of course. Evangelism? Why would the world reach out to the church when they do not see love? Jesus had something to say about our self-righteousness:
“For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Mt. 5:22
"I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”
Jeremiah 17:10 nkjv
Small prayer:
Heavenly Father, Help our thinking patterns to be conformed into the mind of your Son. Give us the wisdom we need to choose our words before we speak. Forgive us for not using what you have given to us and we ask that you would enable us to grow the fruit we need to be fruitful and full of your grace when we speak. In Jesus we ask. Amen
Stay tuned for “Judge Not #2”
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