Have you ever been mad that someone was professing Jesus?
It sounds terrible doesn’t it?
But that was me the other day.
I saw someone I knew- someone who had done hurtful things to others, talking about Jesus.
And all I could think of was ‘what a hypocrite!’
It made me angry thinking that this person who had hurt others and never outwardly showed remorse, was professing Jesus.
But you know what? I’m the hypocrite!
How can I think that I have the right to judge who deserves God’s mercy and grace?
Haven’t I done things that hurt others too?
My head tries to convince myself, ‘yes, but you were sorry. You apologized.’
But you know what?
It.does.not.matter!
Jesus warns us of this in Matthew 7:3-5, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
God loves every single person on this Earth.
He loves those who love Him.
He loves those who hate Him.
He died for each of us.
Maybe that person that I don’t think deserves to talk about God, goes home and struggles secretly over what they’ve done.
Maybe that person pretends that nothing happened but on the inside they’re broken.
Or maybe, they really don’t care that they hurt anyone.
In any case, I’m in no place to judge them.
God knows their heart.
He knows if they’re sincere or if they’re putting on a show.
But He says that vengeance is His.
Lord, when I start to look at someone and think they’ve done something so bad they don’t deserve you, remind me that we have ALL sinned and fallen short of Your glory.
There is no one righteous. No, not one.
Take away my prideful heart. Help me to love and forgive like you.
When I see someone exalting Your name, may my only desire be to join in and give You the glory and honor You, alone deserve.
Amen
