At some phase in each of our lives, we all will be confronted with the impurities of our hearts. The Holy Spirit reveals our sinfulness, not to condemn us but to establish humility and deepen the knowledge of our personal need for grace. It is at this crossroad that both holy men and hypocrites are bred. Those who become holy see their need and fall prostrate before God for deliverance. Those who become hypocrites are they who, in seeing their sin, excuse it and thus remain intact. Though all men must eventually stand at this junction, few are they who embrace the voice of truth; few are they indeed who will walk humbly toward true holiness.
Now for round two:
Jesus Christ did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. Anyone can pass judgment, but can they save? Can they lay down their lives in love, intercession and faith for the one judged? Can they target an area of need, and rather than criticizing, fast and pray, asking God to supply the very virtue they feel is lacking? And then, can they persevere in love-motivated prayer until that fallen area blooms in godliness? Such is the life Christ commands we follow!
Quite a bit to chew on for me, simple as it is. I guess my most present sinfulness is that I just don't want to give everything. I want to protect myself against God because I don't trust that He won't push me beyond what I can bear. I don't really believe that I will be more fulfilled after sacrificing all my comforts. I need grace to see God for who He really is and to forsake this world and it's comforts.
I love the second quote for two reasons. It does not focus on my hurts or needs. It moves the focus outward. After months of introspection, I conclude that outward focus is essential for my own mental health as well as my spiritual health. Do I still need to deal with my own inward struggles? Absolutely! I am meeting with my mother tomorrow to talk about some things that have been bothering me for years, but it is with the intention of putting them to rest so I can move on. Despite other unresolved issues, life should be about doing whatever I can to make the world around me better. It should be about following Jesus' example and putting others first.
