Yesterday I wrote about the works (deeds/acts) of the flesh although I singled out anger. I wrote about the harmful effects they can impose on our testimony. (reputation) Today, I want to focus on that issue through a different perspective. I want to remind you of those who give up on their family members, friends, or Christian brethren on the day they see them exhibiting one of the deeds of the old nature. To me, it is understandable when the world in general does such a thing because it is a tendency of the human nature. What I find hard to accept is when God’s children do it, because the One who lives inside us is greater than our human inclinations.
As God’s children, we should know that each one of us is capable of doing things that dishonor Him. If we lose confidence in our brethren who “mess up” here and there, we have forgotten the many times God has had mercy on us. That is one reason why Paul wrote: “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32) Sometimes Christians are especially hard on those who teach and preach the Word. They forget that God’s servants are no different than they, that they can fall as easily as anyone else. They fail to understand that, as a general rule, God’s servants are tempted and attacked more than most people. The higher the glory, the greater the responsibility. That is why Jesus said: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:48)
Please don’t think that I am in any way trying to excuse those who fall victims to the deeds of the flesh, especially those who keep repeating them. Sin is sin, and it will always have it’s consequences. And while it is not fair for others to give up on us when we mess up here and there, we cannot blame them for losing confidence in us if we keep falling continuously. Regarding our trust and confidence in others, lets ask God to help us gauge them correctly. Lets not go by what others may say. We had a neighbor some years ago who was evicted by his own sister, the owner of the house. According to her, her brother was the scum of the earth. Whether he was or not we may never know. What we did know, however, is that to us he was about as good a neighbor as anyone can have. What should matter most to us is not what others say or think about certain people, but what they are to us.
God’s promise for today: (Psalm 103:10) “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.”
