The uncritical temper

June 17th

The uncritical temper

Judge not, that ye be not judged. Matthew 7:1.

Jesus says regarding judging—Don't. The average Christian is the most penetratingly critical individual. Criticism is a part of the ordinary faculty of man; but in the spiritual domain nothing is accomplished by criticism. The effect of criticism is a dividing up of the powers of the one criticized; the Holy Ghost is the One in the true position to criticize, He alone is able to show what is wrong without hurting and wounding. It is impossible to enter into communion with God when you are in a critical temper; it makes you hard and vindictive and cruel, and leaves you with the flattering unction that you are a superior person. Jesus says, as a disciple, cultivate the uncritical temper. It is not done once and for all. Beware of anything that puts you in the superior person's place.

There is no getting away from the penetration of Jesus. If I see the mote in your eye, it means I have a beam in my own. Every wrong thing that I see in you, God locates in me. Every time I judge, I condemn myself (see Romans 2:17-20). Stop having a measuring rod for other people. There is always one fact more in every man's case about which we know nothing. The first thing God does is to give us a spiritual spring-cleaning; there is no possibility of pride left in a man after that. I have never met the man I could despair of after discerning what lies in me apart from the grace of God.

 

You know… sometimes I just have to laugh. I looked at my phone this morning and saw it was the 16^th. I opened my book and read the 17^{th thinking} it was the 16th. It just laid me wide open. Lord help me to see the plank in my own eye so I can see the speck in my brother's eye. I think what the Lord is showing me with the past events going on is that I have a critical temper. I feel the plank in my eye is the critical temper. I don't need the measuring rod in my life. The fact is hurt people hurt people and I need to give God the glory when looking past the offense. I am far from perfect. IAs I have read this Devo over and over this morning, I see where this critical temper is in many areas of my life. Hmmmm I guess I am worse off than I thought. Cheer up!

Thanks for reading this morning

Here is what it says in Romans the message version

Romans 2:17-23 (The Message)
17 If you're brought up Jewish, don't assume that you can lean back in the arms of your religion and take it easy, feeling smug because you're an insider to God's revelation,
18 a connoisseur of the best things of God, informed on the latest doctrines!
19 I have a special word of caution for you who are sure that you have it all together yourselves and, because you know God's revealed Word inside and out,
20 feel qualified to guide others through their blind alleys and dark nights and confused emotions to God.
21 While you are guiding others, who is going to guide you? I'm quite serious. While preaching "Don't steal!" are you going to rob people blind? Who would suspect you?
22 The same with adultery. The same with idolatry.
23 You can get by with almost anything if you front it with eloquent talk about God and his law.

 

Greater is he that is in me than he who is in the world

Old Wounds

Old wounds

I have been signing my emails lately with the phrase "there is no future in the past" Little did I know that that would be more for me than I realize. I always hate when something gets brought up and you realize that even though you forgave that person, the wound is still there. I thought I dealt with it … as a mater a fact I did and I got peace as well at the time. It has come back. I got a word from the Lord Friday night as I was driving down to Fredericksburg. A friend of mine is always sending scripture. I don't mean just one scripture but 10 to 20. Sometimes a whole chapter. Anyway what he sent me Friday night was this.

⁸ He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;
  he who cherishes understanding prospers.

⁹ A false witness will not go unpunished,
  and he who pours out lies will perish.

¹⁰ It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury—
    how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!

¹¹ A man's wisdom gives him patience;
    it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

Verse 11 is what just hammered me. I just looked at it and said "Lord, are you freaking kidding me?"

I have to tell you part of me on the inside said, do you remember what he did to me and how he talked to me and how he made me feel like a freaking idiot … dumb ass or whatever. Then I have to remember what my book the Bait of Satan says. (Too much to write) Anyway my wife says, have you forgiven him and while I was answering I hear Holy Spirit say NO! So I said No I guess not, dammit! So this is a good thing but I don't like it. The fact that I have to forgive this person over again is very irritating. Nevertheless it has to be done. Here is where the rub is I am supposed to love him, but I don't want to. I know this man is very wounded and has been for a long time. I feel I have forgiven this person …..AGAIN!!! I had to forgive my x wife over and over as well as her husband for the first couple of years after the divorce for stealing her from me. So I know I can do this …. It will just be a process.

Thanks for reading