The Plumbline

If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both. (I John 4:20-21) Dwight L. Moody reminds us, "Faith makes all things possible... love makes all things easy." Faith and love are intricately related - interwoven aspects of our walk with Jesus. Love for God necessitates love for people - even those we find it hard to relate to, don't actually agree with, or just plain find offensive. Does it mean we have to have a deep relationship with these individuals? No, but it does mean we will treat them with kindness even when they don't deserve it! Faith makes all things possible - even getting alone with the 'prickly relative', 'bothersome workmate', or 'pesky neighbor'. It even helps us get along with that ...

So where does that leave you when you criticize a brother? And where does that leave you when you condescend to a sister? I’d say it leaves you looking pretty silly—or worse. Eventually, we’re all going to end up kneeling side by side in the place of judgment, facing God. Your critical and condescending ways aren’t going to improve your position there one bit. Read it for yourself in Scripture: “As I live and breathe,” God says,  “every knee will bow before me; e very tongue will tell the honest truth  that I and only I am God.”  So, mind your own business. You’ve got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God. (Romans 17:10-12) Hands full, indeed! My own life needs all the focus it can get. I don't really have the time or energy to criticize yours! I might think pointing out something a little 'off-kilter' in your life makes me look a bit better, but I probably noticed it in yours because I am so familiar with that same thing in my life! As Paul pens th...