I am one of many Christians who have a bad habit to get into the habit of trying everything before taking our problems to God. God should come first because God first will head off many a bad situation. However, I am trying. As A.W. Tozer once said
"our Lord will not save those whom He cannot command!", in this case, I am rephrasing Tozer's quote,
"our Lord will not help those whom He cannot command". Often, I am one of those Christians who take everything for granted. Decisions are in view of consequences that that we suffer from the consequences of our own blindness and selfishness. There is a close cause-and-effect relationship between deeds and consequences. No right-thinking person would try to deny this. I am seeing many Christians who are behaving like arrogance, lack of charity, contempt, self-righteousness, Christian snobbery and fault-finding. People often judge other people based on their doctrine rather than spiritual. (
I myself catch myself doing at times). All things else being equal, a Christian will make spiritual progress exactly in proportion to his or her ability to criticize himself or herself.
Most Christians forget what Paul said,
"But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment" (1 Corinthians 11:31). We escape the critical judgment of God by exercising our own critical self-judgment.
A.W. Tozer said it beautifully with this quote.
The only proper attitude for the learner is one of humble self-distrust. "I am ignorant," he says, "and am willing to be taught. I am wrong and am willing to be corrected." In this childlike spirit, the mind is made capable of improvement.
The writer of Hebrews wrote in Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
When you judge others, you define yourself. Unknown
4 comments:
A few weeks ago in Sunday school we were discussing this topic. (New church but they were studying John 3:16 by Max Lucado) It amazed me how when asked to make a list of priorities that no one could honestly put God at the top. My husband and I have been thinking about that.
This idea--judge not lest ye...appears often in many religious faiths; and frankly it is common sense. Though I find all animals judge, is this apple rotten? Is this a good date? Am I being used or loved? We do have to keep our feelers active. Matter of degree, I'm thinking.
Heya, Jim,
Many apologies for my absence in commenting here these past few days/week. I DO read you via Google Reader, however! Which may not actually be something you would boast about...sigh... :-)
Linda D. in seattle
I find that only when I am willing to humble myself to receive God's Word, whether it is an encouragement or instruction or even rebuke, that God will do a deeper work in my soul, strengthening me and changing me so that I can be more useful for Him. It can be painful at times especially when He shows me that I am going in the wrong direction or not walking according to His Words. But His ways are always the best and I am encouraged as I see Him fulfilling His promises when I submit to His Words and teaching. Praise Him for His mercies to us.
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