I agree with everything that has been written so far. I'm right there with you Ginny on the mercy.
S- 8. Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the scriptures:"Love your neighbor as yourself."9. But if you favor some people over others, you are commiting a sin.You are guilty of breaking the law.
O- One sin is not worse than another. They are all the same. My sin of jealousy or gossip is the same as the person down the street who maybe living with their boyfriend/girlfriend. That I need to follow Christ totally and not just in the areas I want too.
A- Mercy was the key word for me in this chapter. I sometimes think that I'm a better Christian because I do this and that and not that. I'm guilty of sin just as the next person. I can hold grudges and many times I'm harder on Christians than non believers, because we know better. I have more mercy for the homeless person than I do my fellow believer. I need to realize sin is sin no matter what it is. I know that there is probably many sins that I'm not even aware that I'm committing.
P- That He will reveal to me the areas of sin I haven't confessed of yet. That I would extend the hand of mercy and grace more. I think a lot times I don't is because I think it would take to long and I don't want to bother with it.
Thanks for the encouragement and the bit about grudges. I needed to hear that too.
ReplyDeleteI agree it is a lot easier to have mercy on the homeless than a fellow believer. You said,"many times I'm harder on Christians than non believers, because we know better." I am that way too. Yes, we shouldn't judge and gossip and such, but believers should be held to a higher standard. We can't expect nonbelievers to live like believers. When I have been hurt by a believer the sting is a lot worse because I do think, "They should know better than that." Praying that we will all show mercy where mercy needs to be shown. Love you Jen!
ReplyDeleteOops I posted the comment above from my church account...oops! I'm still getting the hang of this.
ReplyDeleteMy friend and I just had a recent discussion on judging. We did a study last year on being accountable and holding other women who are believers accountable. Holding other believers accountable is so hard because you both have to be in the right and righteous frame of mind to do it in the correct way so it isn't judging. It may take me a lifetime to get that right.
ReplyDelete