Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. ~1 John 2:9-10 (NIV)
Nobody likes to slip, trip, or fall. Yet spiritually we do sometimes, and scripture teaches our stumbling in life is directly related to our love walk. God covers us in love and mercy, so we can cover others with love and mercy. It is our highest calling. When we are able to get our minds off ourselves and on that truth, we will have a better chance of walking in love and avoiding falls! Do you believe God’s love and mercy covers you? If not, you will never be able to extend it. Ask God to get your mind off yourself and plant an understanding of His love deep into your heart today. Knowing that God loves us and is pleased with us, even in our stumbles, will enable us to walk in the confidence we need to share His love and promote unity everywhere we go. We are all searching to fill the void in our hearts and that void is God shaped. That means that the only thing that will fill it is God Himself. He promises us in Ezekiel 26:36 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (NIV) God wouldn’t have had to make that promise to give us a new heart if we didn’t need one. But we do, because ours is corrupt without His Eternal Spirit.
It’s best to know up front that people are going to disappoint us, especially those closest to us. With every disappointment comes the opportunity to get bitter or better. Have you ever noticed the difference between bitter and better? It is the letter “I”. The blame game is no game at all. It is a trap from the enemy. He knows if he can perpetuate the offense long enough it will cause a root of bitterness. If he can get us to tell our coworkers, our spouses and anyone who will listen about all the wrongs we have been subjected to, then he can get us slipping and tripping all over town! Bad roots produce bad fruit and before we know it, we begin to see the fruit of division in our hearts, our homes, and our workplaces because the enemy knows that division is what it takes to halt progress. Jesus told us in Matthew 12:25 “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.” (NIV) Be on guard against causing or perpetuating division. When we allow the enemy to use us in that caliber, we can be sure it won’t be long before he begins to condemn us and accuse us because we know we should have done better. Don’t take His bait. The choice is yours. The bible tells us in Proverbs 16:7 “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” (AMP) Take a step back when presented with an opportunity to say or do something unlovely and catch it as a thought. Cast that thought down and remind yourself when you follow Jesus’ example of loving others you are walking in the light and the devil won’t be able to trip you up!
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. ~2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)
What heart attitude has been tripping you up lately?
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