The biggest hindrance to me serving God more completely and loving others as He does is not the hypocrite in the church but the one that occasionally shows his face in my mirror. It is a treacherous ambition, embarked upon with great peril to act upon the notion, (given the sometimes duplicitous nature of my own heart), to make judgments about what is in the hearts of others. Lord God, I cannot know your heart toward me when I don't allow you to show me what's in my heart toward you and toward others.
Only in Christ is there is any true righteousness of character and apart from Him I am far less than what I might expect of others. The mercy of the Lord toward me breaks my unmerciful demands of others. Newness of life is found in Christ and it is walked out in His grace. Grace affords me the next breath, the next step, and the next chance. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, I thank you for birthing and raising me up in a life that I could not otherwise live. I am completely dependent upon you.
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 139:23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
24 And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
Romans 2
2 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.
Only in Christ is there is any true righteousness of character and apart from Him I am far less than what I might expect of others. The mercy of the Lord toward me breaks my unmerciful demands of others. Newness of life is found in Christ and it is walked out in His grace. Grace affords me the next breath, the next step, and the next chance. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, I thank you for birthing and raising me up in a life that I could not otherwise live. I am completely dependent upon you.
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 139:23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
24 And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
Romans 2
2 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.
RSS Feed