Wonderful Wednesday to all my brothers and sisters in Christ!
I'm getting to this a little late because. . . . I got to go shopping with my husband! And we had a great time! By we I truly do mean we!
So here I am.
This morning I read Matthew 7:1-6 and it reminded me of my life before I had found the Truth.
"Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, 'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye.
Don't waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don't throw your pearl's to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you."
You know a lot of times in order to make myself feel better, I would point my finger at someone else who was gossiping, using drugs, not wiping their kids nose just right, drinking on a week night, wearing too short of a skirt, etc. It made me feel better about my own problems and sins.
Then at times I would blame others for my bad decisions. If they would have loved me enough I wouldn't have to __________. If they told me things like I was _________ then I wouldn't __________. If they hadn't done __________ then I wouldn't ______________. It was never my fault.
Just like Adam and Eve in the very beginning.
When God asked Adam, "Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat:" The man replied, "It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it." Then the Lord God asked the woman, "What have you done?" She replied, "The serpent deceived me." It seems to be human nature to blame others as our first line of defense.
We also may avoid our own problems by evaluating and criticizing others. Jesus tells us, "And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own?. . . .Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye."
While going through this process of cleaning up our life styles and getting healthy on all sorts of levels, we must remember that this is a season of self-examination. It's been an exciting journey, learning about the Lord's love, kindness, grace, patience, and strength. We're learning from the good book about what is right and what is wrong. And it is easy to criticize others for their decisions. We must guard against blaming and examining the lives of others as we learn to walk the narrow path.
There will be a time in the future, which will be awesome, where we can help others in a constructive and loving manner. We will be able to relate to other's sadness and pain. And because we have made progress, we can share with them our experiences and the good news of our Lord and Savior and how they too can overcome these problems. But that will only be after we have taken responsibility for our own actions.
Take time this Christmas season to remember where you have once been and where you are now! Celebrate your success, because you deserve it! But be sympathetic of others who may still be struggling. They may not speak up about the things that are bothering or haunting them. And remember to not boast and be prideful. Your success is due to our gracious God.
Remember you can be a light for someone who at this point only sees darkness. Let God's love and grace shine through you. You will feel it also!
My friends we are blessed! Remember the simple things this season. Remember what we're celebrating for!
My the Good Lord Bless and Keep today, and be with you as we go our separate ways!
Blessings to you ~ Becca
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