We're quick to point out the sins of new believers without giving them a chance to allow the Holy Spirit to work in them. We judge them based on our own self-righteousness instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us as to when and how to confront sin.
We judge those who sin differently from us, as though our sins are acceptable and theirs aren't. The Bible clearly warns us that we're fooling ourselves if we think we don't sin.
Do we have so little faith in the Holy Spirit to work in the lives of Christians, especially those new to faith, that we think we have to step in and do His work for Him? There is a time and place to bring a fellow believer's sins to light, but we need to be sure we're working with Him and not relying on our own judgment.
Very few of us have those dramatic conversion stories--one day we're at our rock-bottom point, possibly addicted to drugs or committing violent crimes--and the next we meet Jesus and turn our lives around almost immediately. Most of us have a slow progression and spend the rest of our lives trying to pattern our lives after Jesus...often failing miserably.
Many people became Christians because they were raised in homes where they learned about Jesus. Of course we each have to make our own decision to follow Him, but it's much easier when we grow up around others who love Jesus and share His love with us. Others are raised in environments where they either never hear about Jesus, or sometimes they grow up learning to mock Him or with negative opinions of the church. They might be a little rougher around the edges after they accept Jesus as their Savior, but their faith is no less genuine. And if we let our own clean-cut lifestyles interfere with our love for them as they are, we could be guilty of hampering their walk with Jesus.
We all sin. We all have our own difficulties in life, often those that we keep hidden. There are Christians who deal with life's problems in unhealthy ways. But whether someone uses alcohol or drugs to cope, or eats loads of comfort food when life gets to be too much, it all points to weak faith. We all fall short when it comes to relying on God to get us through the tough times.
Do we make ourselves available to those who are hurting, or do we just wait for them to make a poor choice... and then we pounce on them? If we were as quick to comfort those who are hurting as we are to criticize their sins, the world really would be a better place. If you weren't there in the midst of someone's pain, don't jump to be part of their prosecution.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all lived in perfect faith once we put our trust in Jesus? Even Moses acted out of anger and fear, and he had spoken with God face-to-face. The apostle Peter let fear cause him to deny knowing Jesus, and he had walked side-by-side with Him for three years.
We all fall short of God's glory. Our individual sins may look different, but they're still sins.
"Just as I am." That's how Jesus calls us. And if we let Him, He'll make us into who He wants us to be. He's patient with us. We should do the same with each other.
My Victory
