Daily Prayer - This is your business ...

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

 
Yesterday we looked at how Paul's instruction not to judge those who are not Christians.  But there is a corollary to that message.  Paul also says in the same letter to the church in Corinth: "Are you not to judge those inside [the church]?" (1 Corinthians 5:12b).  And just prior to that he says "you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people." (1 Corinthians 5:11).  Paul is clearly talking about church goers here as he states "claims to be a brother or sister". 
 
At this point we are prompted to say "whoa - doesn't Jesus tell us not to judge?"
 
Not exactly. 
 
He says that in the way we judge others, we ourselves will be judged.  He then goes on to caution about trying to remove the speck from our friend's eye when we have a log in our own (Matthew 7:2-3).  So if we have habitual sin in our own lives, we are not in a position to be judging others.  Before confronting anyone with our concerns about their lifestyle, we are to do some self-examination and repent of our own sin. 
 
Isn't this a great model?  We are, contrary to Cain's words, our brother's keeper.  And they are ours.  It is a self-correcting system!  We must come to terms with our own sin before going to a friend with theirs.  If only the church would emphasize this more - dealing with our own behaviour and attitudes before looking at the behaviour and attitudes of those outside the church. 
 
As Andy Stanley puts it: "Judge the believin', not the heathen!"
 
 
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce

 

 

Father, during life's testings You are providing us opportunities to examine our spiritual condition. 

 

It's far too easy to make faulty assumptions. 

 

When we fail we often cast blame on others, on circumstances, or sometimes we even question Your hand in the matter. 

 

Give us the courage and thoroughness to turn the search light on our own hearts rather than shining the spotlight on others.  

 

We invite the spiritual scrub brush of Your Holy Word to do the needed cleansing and purging. 

 

Your love is ever before us and will lead us in the way we should go!  

 

It's not by our strength or power, but by walking in Your Spirit that we cast out wrong attitudes and stop undesirable behavior.

 

Thank You for never giving up on us and for Your Spirit's conviction in our life!  

 

Amen.

(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2011/08/26/a-prayer-for-self-examination/)