I’ve got a little exercise for you to do, right now. Think of one person that you know. Really just try to concentrate on just one person. Now, what is one characteristic or action of that person that really speaks volumes about who they are, to you?
Do you think that your assessment of that person fully describes who they are? Is what you know about that person adequate to make a snapshot of who they are? Think about how you arrived at your assessment of that person. It probably was not what they said to you that really mattered. It more than likely was not just how someone else described them to you or what others may have said about them. More than likely you arrived at your opinion by what the person has done around you and to you. Their actions and the way that they interact with others has caused you to have your opinion of who and what they are.
Galatians 6:7-10
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
In this letter to the church at Galatia Paul makes each one of us accountable for our own lives. It’s amazing the difference with which we see our lives and other’s lives. We can become aggravated and enraged with others who choose not to live their lives as they should, but are we examining our own lives as close as we should?
Matthew 7:1-5
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
All of us are very quick to find fault and make judgments about other people.
The old saying is “If you are going to dish it out, you had better be able to take it!” We can pretend to be whatever we want to make ourselves to believe, but in reality we are going to give an account to God who cannot be fooled. We must be able to ask ourselves tough questions like:
Hebrews 4:12-13
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
We’re not hiding anything from God. It’s not what we pretend to be that matters to him, but what our actions have shown we are. God, help us to be what is pleasing unto you and let the actions of our lives be all that you are in us.
Pastor Hoffman
Do you think that your assessment of that person fully describes who they are? Is what you know about that person adequate to make a snapshot of who they are? Think about how you arrived at your assessment of that person. It probably was not what they said to you that really mattered. It more than likely was not just how someone else described them to you or what others may have said about them. More than likely you arrived at your opinion by what the person has done around you and to you. Their actions and the way that they interact with others has caused you to have your opinion of who and what they are.
Galatians 6:7-10
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
In this letter to the church at Galatia Paul makes each one of us accountable for our own lives. It’s amazing the difference with which we see our lives and other’s lives. We can become aggravated and enraged with others who choose not to live their lives as they should, but are we examining our own lives as close as we should?
Matthew 7:1-5
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
All of us are very quick to find fault and make judgments about other people.
- Other's kids can be wild animals until you have some of your own
- Situations should be handled a certain way until we are in the situation
- No slack should be given to others unless we happen to be the others
- A job would be better done in my hands until you realize you’ve got the job and it’s not as easy as you thought
The old saying is “If you are going to dish it out, you had better be able to take it!” We can pretend to be whatever we want to make ourselves to believe, but in reality we are going to give an account to God who cannot be fooled. We must be able to ask ourselves tough questions like:
- Am I keeping my priorities straight?
- Am I accountable to someone besides myself?
- Am I sensitive to what God is saying to the body of Christ or do I think that it doesn’t concern me?
- Am I aware and honest about my weaknesses?
- Am I willing to ask as much out of myself as I am of others?
Hebrews 4:12-13
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
We’re not hiding anything from God. It’s not what we pretend to be that matters to him, but what our actions have shown we are. God, help us to be what is pleasing unto you and let the actions of our lives be all that you are in us.
Pastor Hoffman
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