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I Still Need Some Work

After a month on my challenge....my mouth still needs some work. By power of God's Spirit alone, I am able to speak blessing when challenged with a trying situation. At times I yield to His will; other times, I find my flesh is uncrucified. Monday night in prayer, the Spirit drew me into repentance for attitudes of the heart towards a certain community of people. For far too long, the church has felt justified in speaking judgment upon those who are unbelievers. We, like James in John in Luke 9:51-56, often have a harsh spirit towards those who are labeled as 'severe sinners.' How often, for instance, do conservative Christians speak ill of their president? Christ's Spirit compels us not to grumble and complain about our nation, but to rise up in prayer. James and John wanted to call fire down from heaven and consume the unbelievers (vs 54) but Jesus rebuked them and told them, in essence, that they were not of His Spirit as long as they carried that kind of attitude. Jesus told them in verse 56, "For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." Maybe I don't sit around speaking derogatory comments about people or leaders; but where is my heart? Is my hidden attitude that of Jesus' or James and John's? Even the subtle attitude of seeing some people as 'REALLY lost' can be a snare to my soul. I must see them as Christ sees them.

A few months ago I was reading 1 John 4:7-16 which deals with the Body of Christ loving one another. It says that anyone who loves is 'born of God and knows God' (vs 7). Born of God indicates new life in Christ. New life is born in the PERSON of Love. Accessing love is accessing God. Love is a person. But, this caused me to wonder and ask, "Lord, how is it that many in the world show better love than Christian's? How can they love and not know you (according to verse 7)?" I waited on the Lord to answer...and answer he did! He told me, "They are closer to the Kingdom than you think! My Kingdom isn't about rules...it's foundations are love, life, and liberty. These who would lay down their life for their friends are closer to the Kingdom than those who claim to be in it and yet do not love. Watch out! For this is how it was with the Pharisees: the 'sons' of the Kingdom are thrown out." The phrase 'they are closer the the Kingdom than you think shocked me! Then, yesterday I was reminded of it again while reading Mark 12:28-34. A scribe declared to Jesus that 'to love [God] with all the heart with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices" (vs 33). Wow. What an answer. This guy was not a disciple of Christ. Yet he understood the importance of love. Jesus answered him in verse 34a, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." Dang.

So, I still need some work. I know, Holy One, that it is YOUR work in me, not my work. Forgive us, Lord, where we have had an attitude of judgment and condemnation. Teach us how to love. Teach us, Jesus. Spirit do Your work in me. I place a guard over my mouth that I may not sin against a brother today. Place your seal of fire upon my heart that even the attitudes within me are consumed by firey love. In Jesus name.

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