CAUGHT MY EYE

Related image    The book of Romans is always a perplexing, in your face, and convicting read...at least to this finite and flawed one.  Romans 2:1 caught my eye: "You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else; for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things."  This is one of my flaws....judgment and a critical spirit, and I have confessed and addressed it over the years.  Reminder:  I must stay alert to this sin!

I come to Romans 14 in my reading for this am; the Spirit of God brought it to my attention again: "Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters."  "You, then, why do you judge your brother?  Or why do you look down on your brother?  For we will all stand before God's judgment seat.  It is written:   'As surely as I live says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will confess to God."    I checked out the word, judgment, in the Greek.  Meanings:  decide, try, condemn, punish, avenge, damn, decree, ordain, call into question, and sentence to. 

Luke 18:8-14 comes to my mind as I  envision everyone in church praying. The sinner/tax collector prays and could not even raise his head as he beat his breast, "God have mercy on me a sinner."  The other pray-er, the Pharisee, STANDS and prays about himself:  "God, I thank you that I am not like other men-robbers-evildoers, adulterers-or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get."  Jesus' evaluation of the two men?  The tax collector "went home justified before God.  For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted." 

Thank You, dear Spirit of God, for the REMINDER.  I desire that Your Word doesn't just catch my eye, but bring about repentance and confession.  Thank You, Lord Jesus that my sin of pride, judgmental, and critical spirit were nailed to the Cross as You paid the price for my sins.  Thank you for forgiveness and grace.  Forever learning.  In process.  #IHAVETHREESONS 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THOSE SEEING CAN BECOME BLIND

Image
John 9 is the story of the healing of the blind beggar.  Not only is it a marvelous story of the miraculous healing of the man as he is given his sight, but a sad story of the religious of whom Jesus said, "For judgment, I have come into this world, so that the blind will see, and those who see will become blind ." The religious have seen the miracle, even though it has taken place on a Sabbath, and they interview the man and his parents for their stories and understanding. I find it so thrilling that the healed man speaks so articulately and logically with the religious in their "interview" with him.  His statement, " Now that is remarkable!  You don't know where HE comes from, yet HE opened my eyes.  We know that God does not listen to sinners.  He listens to the godly man who does His will.  Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing." What truth he has spoken to the religious wh...
Read more

REHEARSALS

Image
  I wonder how much time do I give to rehearsing God's goodness and how He has intervened in my life to "save" me from myself?  How alike the Israelites I can be, complaining about what goes wrong, how it affects me, and what I lack.  As a Christ follower, I have the Indwelling Holy Spirit to give me remembrance NOT of my complaining and grumbling, but of a recall of God's faithfulness to me.  It is recorded in Psalms 78 and 106 that " They forgot what He had done, the wonder He had shown them", "They did not remember His power--the day He redeemed them from the oppressor...", "They did not remember Your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.", "But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel.", and "They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt...". Contrast with me, God's remembrance: Ps. 106:44-46, "But He took note of their distress...
Read more

SPENDING MONEY ON WHAT DOES NOT SATISFY

Image
    Have you ever noticed that the object you purchased which you thought would thrill your heart has instead been a great disappointment?  In reading Isaiah 55, a question is put forth by Isaiah: "Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?"  In contrast, Isaiah mentions several thoughts which will bring satisfaction:  Come to the Lord as Savior and Lord in salvation.  To make that choice requires no money, and the invitation is an open invite...ya'll come! It requires a willingness to receive the invitation. Coming to Him, we can experience our soul, (mind, will, and emotions) to be nourished and nurtured.  His thoughts and ways are the highest in quality for our spiritual welfare, and we can align our mindset to His purposes for us. His every spoken or written Word will accomplish what He has purposed.  Promise made; Promise kept!  Our obedience to His Word is encouraged.   The result of r...
Read more