And Again I Fail Him!
Proverbs 15:1-2 A soft answer turneth away wrath but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright, but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
Yesterday I failed God, just as I have done so many times in the past. I looked on others with contempt and I spoke unkindly. I was so much like the fool spoken of in Proverbs 15:2b "But the mouth of the fools poureth out foolishness." If you are my friend on Facebook and are reading this, you are familiar with some of the harsh words I spoke yesterday in anger, an anger that is not really mine to have and is displeasing to God. If you don't know me, let me explain.
It's NOT My job!
Many people are up in arms about Phil Robertson from Duck Dynasty being "indefinitely suspended" for comments made about homosexuality. I would be one of those people because the Bible condemns homosexuality just as it condemns any sinner, myself included. I believe that a person should have the right to Freedom of Speech even if that "speech" is politically incorrect. However, it was my reaction to this situation and to a dear friend (whom I have known since he was 11) where I failed God. And for this I have asked for forgiveness from both those I hurt and to God. Why? Because it is not my place to judge anyone else. In fact, Jesus (who is God) says this about judgement "Judge not that you be not judged. For the judgement you pronounce will be your judgement and the measure you use it will be measured unto you" (Matthew 7: 1&2). God reserves the right to be judge of man, as His Word clearly states (Psalm 75:7, Isaiah 33:22, 2 Tim 4:8) and we are not given any command to judge others.
I AM a Sinner too!
My words to and about others yesterday make me a hypocrite. Yes, I said it, I was being a hypocrite. By judging others because of their sin, I was sinning myself. I was "boasting" that I am righteous when in fact, no one can claim to be righteous. Don't believe me, look at God's thoughts of righteousness of man as stated in Romans 3:9-13 "What then, are we better than they? No, in no wise. We have before proved both Jew and Gentiles; they are all under sin. As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one. There is none that understandeth, there is none that seek after God." If I am a Christian than I understand I am not better than those I railed against. Without God's grace, of which none of us are worthy, I would be condemned. I sin everyday, everyone who reads this blog sins everyday. The most holy person you or I could think of sins everyday. Why? Because we are all bound by the same sin nature until God's time to judge us.
LOVE FIRST!
My biggest failure yesterday was the sin of hate. Jesus very clearly instructs us that we should "Love one another as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:34-35). Notice He did not say "love only those who live a righteous lifestyle or those who don't sin (look to Romans 3:9-13 above). He did not place any exclusion clause in His commandment or say "bad people need not apply." As someone told me yesterday, we must approach non-Christians with love and kindness if we are to bring them to Christ. It is so easy to forget that God knows everything that is in our hearts, every thought that passes through out minds, and everything we have ever done and He still loves us. Really, all we need is to look to two of the first Bible verses children learn in Bible School. John 3:16 "For God so LOVED the WORLD that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." and Romans 3:23 "For ALL have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God!" If God loves me in the messed up state I am in, then there is no one He does not love. Despite some churches who claim that God hates sinners, Jesus' actions clearly contradict that statement. Yes there are verses in the Bible (many old testament) that point to the idea of God hating sinners and there are many people who reject that God can love someone who sins because the Bible never says the exact words "hate the sin, love the sinner" but once again lets look to Jesus' example of Samaritan woman and the Harlot, look also to the cross where Jesus died for all our sins. These were not actions of a God who hates His own creation. After all if He hates sinners, how can any of us be redeemed. No, I refuse to believe that God hates me because I sin, otherwise there is no grace. No, God loves us and we are to love others..it's really as simple as that!!
I Repent
Yes, I think it is safe to say that I failed God in so many ways yesterday. I failed by judging others, I failed by using foolish words, and I failed to show love. And yes, that makes me a sinner as much as the people I judged, hated, and spoke foolishly of. I have asked God for His forgiveness and I know He has forgiven me. 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." And I thank Him for His faithfulness and love. Now all I can do is pray for pardon from those that my foolish words and judgement have harmed.
Yesterday I failed God, just as I have done so many times in the past. I looked on others with contempt and I spoke unkindly. I was so much like the fool spoken of in Proverbs 15:2b "But the mouth of the fools poureth out foolishness." If you are my friend on Facebook and are reading this, you are familiar with some of the harsh words I spoke yesterday in anger, an anger that is not really mine to have and is displeasing to God. If you don't know me, let me explain.
It's NOT My job!
Many people are up in arms about Phil Robertson from Duck Dynasty being "indefinitely suspended" for comments made about homosexuality. I would be one of those people because the Bible condemns homosexuality just as it condemns any sinner, myself included. I believe that a person should have the right to Freedom of Speech even if that "speech" is politically incorrect. However, it was my reaction to this situation and to a dear friend (whom I have known since he was 11) where I failed God. And for this I have asked for forgiveness from both those I hurt and to God. Why? Because it is not my place to judge anyone else. In fact, Jesus (who is God) says this about judgement "Judge not that you be not judged. For the judgement you pronounce will be your judgement and the measure you use it will be measured unto you" (Matthew 7: 1&2). God reserves the right to be judge of man, as His Word clearly states (Psalm 75:7, Isaiah 33:22, 2 Tim 4:8) and we are not given any command to judge others.
I AM a Sinner too!
My words to and about others yesterday make me a hypocrite. Yes, I said it, I was being a hypocrite. By judging others because of their sin, I was sinning myself. I was "boasting" that I am righteous when in fact, no one can claim to be righteous. Don't believe me, look at God's thoughts of righteousness of man as stated in Romans 3:9-13 "What then, are we better than they? No, in no wise. We have before proved both Jew and Gentiles; they are all under sin. As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one. There is none that understandeth, there is none that seek after God." If I am a Christian than I understand I am not better than those I railed against. Without God's grace, of which none of us are worthy, I would be condemned. I sin everyday, everyone who reads this blog sins everyday. The most holy person you or I could think of sins everyday. Why? Because we are all bound by the same sin nature until God's time to judge us.
LOVE FIRST!
My biggest failure yesterday was the sin of hate. Jesus very clearly instructs us that we should "Love one another as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:34-35). Notice He did not say "love only those who live a righteous lifestyle or those who don't sin (look to Romans 3:9-13 above). He did not place any exclusion clause in His commandment or say "bad people need not apply." As someone told me yesterday, we must approach non-Christians with love and kindness if we are to bring them to Christ. It is so easy to forget that God knows everything that is in our hearts, every thought that passes through out minds, and everything we have ever done and He still loves us. Really, all we need is to look to two of the first Bible verses children learn in Bible School. John 3:16 "For God so LOVED the WORLD that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." and Romans 3:23 "For ALL have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God!" If God loves me in the messed up state I am in, then there is no one He does not love. Despite some churches who claim that God hates sinners, Jesus' actions clearly contradict that statement. Yes there are verses in the Bible (many old testament) that point to the idea of God hating sinners and there are many people who reject that God can love someone who sins because the Bible never says the exact words "hate the sin, love the sinner" but once again lets look to Jesus' example of Samaritan woman and the Harlot, look also to the cross where Jesus died for all our sins. These were not actions of a God who hates His own creation. After all if He hates sinners, how can any of us be redeemed. No, I refuse to believe that God hates me because I sin, otherwise there is no grace. No, God loves us and we are to love others..it's really as simple as that!!
I Repent
Yes, I think it is safe to say that I failed God in so many ways yesterday. I failed by judging others, I failed by using foolish words, and I failed to show love. And yes, that makes me a sinner as much as the people I judged, hated, and spoke foolishly of. I have asked God for His forgiveness and I know He has forgiven me. 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." And I thank Him for His faithfulness and love. Now all I can do is pray for pardon from those that my foolish words and judgement have harmed.
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