What's In Your Heart

Sometimes we are quick to point out other people's obvious faults whether it be fornication, drinking, cursing etc. Some of us are so bad you would think Inspector Gadget was our mentor. We walk around with our magnifying glasses trying to look for stuff in order to "put people on blast" as the young people would say it. We are quick to bash the brother that's standing on the corner with a blunt in his mouth. We shake our head or turn up our nose at the lady with the mini skirt.

You may be thinking "well Gina isn't that we are supposed to do, otherwise we're condoning the act". Yes, we do have an obligation to share what we know with others concerning living a holy and righteous lifestyle because some may not know. They may have never had guidance nor been brought up in the things of God. Our paths will cross with people from all walks of life. We have to let them know that Jesus wants to show them a better way and that He loves them. When done in the spirit of love and with the right agenda, this is acceptable.

Unfortunately, this is not always the case. You have some people that just want to point out the faults of others not to help them and lead them into repentance but to somehow make themselves appear to have "arrived". To those I say, "You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!'  Acts 7:51 NIV.  Be like Michael Jackson and start with the man in the mirror. Take the flashlight that you are walking around with to scope out others and shine it on your heart.

Many of us walk around with hidden sin. This type of sin can't be seen with the naked eye. We do things like calling our friends to start gossiping about our neighbor. We talk about their strongholds and what they are dealing with instead of praying that it is broken off of them. We get jealous when we see others in the faith getting blessed, not knowing what they had to endure in order to receive blessing, instead of positioning ourselves likewise so that we too may be blessed. We smile at the person sitting next to us knowing inwardly we can't stand them. The bible says in 1 Samuel 16:7 "....The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." NIV

Let us take a moment and begin to examine ourselves so that this type of behavior is not named among us. Let's do this the bible way, "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven". Luke 6:37 NIV. "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves....". 2 Corinthians 13:5 NIV. By doing this, we will be ensuring that we are not just sounding brass but we are operating in the love that our Father commanded.

Until next time....