Judging — in front of a mirror. . . .

 

Christians have a saying about judging others. It goes something like this: Don’t point fingers at others without remembering that three other fingers are pointing back at you. It comes from this passage:

Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (Romans 2:1–4)

I’ve said it. I’ve thought it. I’ve sometimes noticed it is true — for others, but not often for myself. Our small group study is going to look at Romans 2 tonight and in preparing for it, I note the first four questions asked are about the above passage. God is telling me to give this much more consideration than usual.

For instance, think about the people or actions those people do that annoy me. God suggests that I do the same things? Actually, that makes sense. How would I even be aware of these annoying things if I didn’t recognize them when I look in the mirror? And if I made a list, would it take up far many pages than I’d like to admit? Another thought: if I’m seeing my sin in others, this could be part of the reason Jesus isn’t focusing on my sin (that’s the Holy Spirit’s job) because He is not guilty of the same sin!

In the past year, I have met some Christians who talk (and laugh) more about their mistakes than their accomplishments. They hardly speak of successes and when they do, credit is never taken. Instead, they thank others and God for whatever worked out goodness in their own lives often the mistakes. These people are wonderful to be around. No judging in their conversations. If they have any bad habits, I don’t see them which is a relief because if I did, this passage from Romans says I only see it because I do the same things. It is good to associate with those who are humble.

This reminds me of yesterday’s post about a person who has lied to herself. I’ve wondered if this is a constant issue, or is God telling me that I’m frustrated because I am also slow or reluctant to admit my own mistakes? I know when I err in minor chores or in sewing a quilt, I often say, “Oh, you dummy” and yet that is about as far as it goes. My new friends would say that about their mistakes and then laugh. They have learned from God what Paul learned after he asked God to remove a problem . . . .  

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9–10)

I tend to keep wanting the problem removed instead of glorying in the weakness it displays. I might even point my finger at someone with a stronger problem so mine doesn’t get noticed. This is why God says not to assume that I will escape God's correction (a form of judgment) for in His rich kindness and forbearance and patience He intends to lead me to repentance. He wants all my finger pointing done in front of a mirror. 

PRAY: Father, I feel the sting of being so proud of me without realizing how that produces behaviors that are nothing to be proud about. I can make excuses, even call myself a dummy, but that kind of talk is not the same as repentance. You now remind me that my own father  disciplined me for a short time, but always for my good, and You do the same that I may share Your holiness. Yes, for now it seems painful rather than pleasant, but You promise that this means later it will yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness when I have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:10–11) For this I am thankful.

Old Testament Grace

READ 2 Chronicles 33–36

Some say that grace came only in the NT, but the grace of God is also evident in the OT. God didn’t change people with a new birth, but by grace He preserved the nation that would eventually give us the Messiah.

King Hezekiah did well but his son started badly. Those who pray for unsaved children can take heart. Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign. He was evil like the abominations of the nations whom the Lord drove out of the land. He even burned his sons as an offering, used fortune-telling and omens and sorcery, and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He also led his people to do more evil than the nations whom the Lord destroyed. Then grace changed this man:

The Lord spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they paid no attention. Therefore the Lord brought upon them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh with hooks and bound him with chains of bronze and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God. (2 Chronicles 33:10–13)

Manasseh got rid of the foreign gods and the idol in the house of the Lord, and all the altars that he had built. He restored the altar of the Lord and sacrificed peace and thanksgiving offerings. He commanded Judah to serve the Lord. They still sacrificed at high places, but only to the Lord. (33:15–17)

The next king, Amon, did evil as his father had done. He sacrificed to idols but did not humble himself before the Lord. Some conspired against him and he died. His son was made king in his place, a mere eight years old. However, Josiah did what was right and walked in the ways of David his father because he sought God. At twelve, he began to purge the high places and idols. When the priests were at work in the temple and found the Book of the Law of the Lord, Amon realized “great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord, to do according to all that is written in this book.” (34:21) A prophetess was consulted who said:

Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the curses that are written in the book that was read before the king of Judah. Because they have forsaken me and have made offerings to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands, therefore my wrath will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched. But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Regarding the words that you have heard, because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants, and you have humbled yourself before me and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place and its inhabitants.’ ” (34:24–28)

This too is grace.

Josiah took away all the abominations and the people followed the Lord under his reign. He kept a Passover such as none of the kings ever had. However, when warned by God through a foreign king not to battle with him, Josiah was killed. Then the kingdom declined.

Kings were appointed, Jehoahaz, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah, but none stopped the slide. They did evil with stiff necks and hard hearts, all unfaithful to God and not listening to His prophets. They wound up in captivity in Babylon, the house of the Lord was burned, and the city destroyed.

Then, after seventy years, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the Lord his God be with him. Let him go up.’ ” (36:22–23)

By the grace of God, His people went home, abandoned idols, and rebuild their city. No, they were not blessed with the Messiah, not yet. He came a few hundred years later and soon we celebrate His arrival!

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

 

Handles I don’t need . . .

Some people call that extra poundage around the middle a ‘spare tire.’ Others more kindly call it ‘love handles.’ My brother had ears that stood out; my dad called them ‘handles’ and often used them that way.

Handles make many items easier to grasp. I have a flower vase that needs them because it is difficult to hold, even slippery and easy to drop. However, there are handles that I don’t need or want . . . Today’s devotional ends with an interesting quote. It says . . .

“Any place where a person sins, he puts handles on his soul for Satan to grasp. Repentance gets rid of the handles.” Author unknown.

I’ve never thought of handles that way but must agree. Any rebellion against God cannot be conquered as long as I cooperate with the enemy. All self-serving and sinful attitudes give the devil something to hold and keep me in his grasp.

Tozer gives the reason why this is true. He says God cannot do our repenting for us. The church, by trying to magnify grace, has conveyed the impression that repentance is a work of God, but that is an error. God commands repentance, but He does not do it for us. Even Christ could not do it. He could die for us, but He cannot do our repenting for us.

Tozer adds that God can push us in that direction and give us the idea we should repent. For instance, the Bible says, “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4)

However, I’m not sure of Tozer’s teaching. There are verses that say otherwise. For instance, one passage tells God’s worker to be kind and teach others, “correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:25-26)

From this, I understand that yes, Satan does grab us by our ‘handles’ yet God grants repentance, so we can come to our senses. This is the role of the Holy Spirit who convicts us of sin, particularly the sin of not trusting Jesus. I so easily trust myself and build handles for the enemy to reinforce his lie that says I don’t need God!

Repentance is vital. It is turning from sin and all self-effort to trust God. Like any of the commands, this one tugs at my heart, yet I know that I cannot obey it without the power of the Holy Spirit. I’ve learned that the hard way.

Yet there is another prerequisite for repentance; I must want it, and to want it, I must hate sin, and to hate sin, I need the Spirit of God to show me how awful it is.

In my understanding every step and part of salvation is of God. That gives me no excuse for being uncooperative or for growing handles. God is right here to bestow on me what I need — as soon as I’m convinced to stop resisting it. Sin is such that I want to ‘do it myself’ but grace is of God, an incredible gift to one so undeserving.

This is part of the mystery of redemption. God does it, yet I must respond. He convicts of sin, yet I must confess it is true. He grants faith, yet I must believe. He grants repentance, yet I must repent. This is why Jesus said: “Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10)

^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, I realize that there is ‘Your part’ and ‘my part’ and that I can never blame You for my failure to live as You desire. At the same time, I know that I cannot live Your way in my own strength. You grant the grace and the power to say NO to sin and YES to You. Thank You for the great blessing of being able to repent!