I WISH...
I WISH…that I could be perfect.
I cannot tell you HOW many times I have been frustrated with myself. I have always WANTED to do, and say, and be…RIGHT. But I find myself falling so short of RIGHT…in so many ways…that I would be totally embarrassed to have my life laid bare before everyone. I know FULL WELL most of my shortcomings, although, I am POSITIVE that there are many more that I have yet to recognize in myself.
I WISH…that others were perfect.
I truly WOULD like to be able to go through life not being able to see the weaknesses and faults of others. I really don’t WANT to see them, but like my OWN shortcomings, theirs are, all too often, visible to me.
Romans 7:19-23 says…”For the good which I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I practice. But if what I would not, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwelleth in me. I find then the law, that, to me who would do good, evil is present. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members.”
WHY is it so easy for us to understand that in regard to ourselves, but we can’t imagine that others are struggling with the same DESIRE to do and be RIGHT?…THAT it is a constant WAR between humanity and our carnal nature?…and give each other a BREAK already! Just because someone is not being particularly successful at a given moment and time, it doesn’t mean that it is not in their HEART to do RIGHT. WE, of all people, SHOULD KNOW THIS!
I WISH…that I could ALWAYS refrain from being judgmental.
Most of the time, I can honestly say that I don’t go around SPECIFICALLY INTENT on judging the behavior and actions of others. When I have negative thoughts about someone, I usually TRY to give them the benefit of the doubt, to EMPHASIZE their good qualities in my mind, and to be aware that I DON’T have all of the information about their situation or circumstance. I cannot truly JUDGE because I don’t have all of the facts and besides that…JUDGMENT is for the Great Judge alone. Only He can see the intent and motivation of the heart. I CANNOT.
I WISH…that others could and would refrain from passing judgment upon me and those who belong to me.
Just as I don’t have all of the information in regard to their situation and circumstance, neither do they in regard to me and mine. Neither can THEY see the intent and motivation of a heart.
Luke 6:37 says…”Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:”
Ephesians 4:32 says…”And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
Luke 6:38 says…”For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
THAT is why I TRY to use the BIG MEASURING SPOON for doling out forgiveness and forbearance in my thinking, attitude and actions toward others! I REALIZE that I CANNOT do ANYTHING about what others do or think, but I can CHOOSE my own actions! I know that I have many occasions to need His forgiveness, as well as, the forgiveness of others…and I want to GIVE what I want to RECEIVE in return. (There it is again…that law of reaping what we sow.)
BESIDES…I am sure that God didn’t appoint us to be the RIGHTEOUSNESS POLICE! I think that He is perfectly capable of doing that all by Himself. He doesn’t need MY HELP…or YOURS!
Jesus, Himself, was JUDGED for His relationships with sinners (among many other things). DUH! How was He going to REACH them without TOUCHING THEIR LIVES! How are WE going to REACH sinners without TOUCHING their lives! We can INSULATE ourselves from everyone who doesn’t look, act, or behave as WE DO and Christianity will DIE OUT when we do…or there again…CAN WE truly BE Christians WITHOUT REACHING OUT to sinners?
I WISH that we all would PRACTICE LOVE…
Love is hard work. Sometimes, it means that I lay down my agenda…that I don’t get my way. In fact, TRUE LOVE will cause me to rejoice when someone else is blessed or honored. If we are ever going to love the way that Jesus loves, we will have to LAY DOWN our own lives for the sake of others.
I WANT my life to be an outflowing of His supernatural love to everyone that I know. I will confess that I am NOT always successful…but I am going to KEEP TRYING…
I promise you that.
