Some lessons in life aren’t learned the first time or even the second. I needed this reminder this morning.
I shared this a few years back but God is still working in me so that I can be successful every day…What a great way to start the New Year!
You know if God brings something to me, I’m going to share it with you too. So here goes – the other day I found myself complaining about some people and how they were doing something. It wasn’t the first time I had “complained” about this situation so when I finally finished my vent, I heard this in my heart. “Those are my kids and I want you to quit complaining about this. I’m working on them and as their parent, that’s My place – not yours!”
Oooo, I knew I had been rebuked but it didn’t end there. The Lord went on to say “I put you in their life to help them, not criticize and I put them in your life to help you get past being critical of people.”
Ouch!!
So this morning, if this applies to you – if you struggle with being critical of certain people and certain situations accept the correction that the Lord gave me.
“The LORD hates these seven things: 17 eyes that show pride, tongues that tell lies, hands that kill innocent people, 18 hearts that plan evil things to do, feet that run to do evil, 19 witnesses in court who tell lies, and anyone who causes family members to fight.” Proverbs 6:16-19 ERV
You see, I was being prideful and feeling superior, glad I wasn’t like “them” (double ouch) and God hates that. Pride is in some pretty bad company in these verses. It’s linked right in there with murder, perjury, those who plan evil and family discord. God sees them all the same and He hates all those actions.
It’s my job to be loving and helpful not critical and prideful. Yes Lord, I’ll be obedient.
“Do everything without complaining or arguing 15 so that you will be blameless and pure, children of God without any fault. But you are living with evil people all around you, who have lost their sense of what is right. Among those people you shine like lights in a dark world,” Philippians 2:14-15
We’re suppose to be different – we’re suppose to be a light!
So this is my prayer. “LORD, help me control what I say. Don’t let me say anything bad.” Psalm 141:3
Forgive me if I stepped on your toes. God is wanting us to be a light to those who have lost the sense of right and wrong. To do that we need to be different, we need to be godly.
We are to speak out against the evil and ungodliness in our world but we aren’t to speak evil of the people doing it!