LOVE ONE ANOTHER

The more we study God’s word and learn who we are supposed to be a change begins. The more we find out about how we should act, behave, and be the person God wants us to be, we begin to become more like Him. The more we become Christ like something happens inside our finite thinking. We become elevated in our own minds. We pat ourselves on the back and look around at others. Yes, we begin to compare ourselves to others in our circle. And yes, we come out on top!

Our thinking goes a bit astray as we evaluate our own behavior. We’ve come a long way, baby! Or have we? It is human nature to compare ourselves to others. We do it from grade school. Who has the cutest hair, the sweetest smile, who is the tallest, the smartest, the most fun. So why not follow that human trait and compare our spiritual growth to other believers, now that we have arrived, or think we have.

Here is the danger: We don’t know anyone’s path but our own. We don’t know how God has worked in their life, how their family life was before they walked with God. We don’t know the plan God has for them, the struggles and battles they face. We only truly know our own. They may have moved an inch when we think we have moved miles from where we started. An inch for them may be more in God’s eyes than our miles are in our own. We are warned about judging others in God’s word. Here is what Paul imparts in Romans.

Paul writes in Romans 14:10 Why do you pass judgement on your brother? Or why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

And in Romans 14:12 Do not cause another to stumble. Therefore, let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

We are encouraged to love one another in God’s word. We are instructed to embrace our oneness in Christ and move from elevating ourselves to elevating our brothers. If you are not doing this then rightly judge yourself. You haven’t come as far as you think you have. Just a thought!

Let God know where you are and let Him be the judge.

MJ Gillespie