Sometimes it's nice to have a concrete check-list to evaluate my responses to others' actions. My post last night reminded me of this list, and I thought I would post it here for all of you.
Our family has had this list on our bathroom wall for nearly a year - ever since Pastor Courville preached a sermon with many of these points. I hope you will find it as helpful as I have.
If seeing someone else's failure...
~ Prompts you to review their past failures
~Makes you feel more comfortable with the failures in your own life
~Increases your estimation of yourself
If you see someone else fail and you...
~Are eager to tell others about it
~Have a desire to see that person punished
Your heart is WRONG!
If you are critical and proud, you will enjoy publicly exposing those who you condemn. This is what it means to be "judgmental."
If, when seeing someone else's failure...
~You don't form an opinion on first impression
~You remember that you could very easily fail in the same way (if you have not already)
If, at the sight of someone's failure...
~You intercede for him
~You are reluctant to share it with other people
~You desire that he will be shown mercy
Your heart is RIGHT!
When you truly love a person, you will want to deal as privately as possible with their wrongs. You will also want to see them restored and will be unwilling to just "sweep things under the rug" if the issues really need to be dealt with. You will realize that they may not want to be restored or think they need to be. That is why you must intercede for them.
Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will He teach sinners in the way. The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth. Psalms 25:8-10
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1 comment:
Printed and Posted in a couple of spots already. Thanks Mary!
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