Don't Forget Self!

I know that when I point my finger at others I must be very careful because when doing so I have three fingers pointing back at myself. [Take a look at your hand while pointing and you will see what I mean.] It is often too easy to judge the actions of others when we may be guilty ourselves.
Perhaps the fact we have the struggle ourselves makes its presence in others so obvious.

Note Paul’s warning to the church at Rome.
“(3) Do you suppose, O man -- you who judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself -- that you will escape the judgment of God? (4) Or DO YOU PRESUME ON THE RICHES OF HIS KINDNESS and FORBEARANCE and PATIENCE, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Romans
2:3-4 ESV)

Where the English Standard Version has the word “presume”, other translations have “despise” (NKJV) and “contempt” (NIV). The Greek word is “kataphroneis” which is a combination of “kata” meaning “down” and “phren” which means “mind” and according to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words “kataphroneo” literally means to think down upon or against anyone and signifies to think slightly of.

Being PRESUMPTIVE can be dangerous. When we PRESUME too much we can find ourselves in deep trouble or disappointment. For us to PRESUME we can judge the lives of others and do the same things ourselves without fearing God’s judgment we have not thought as seriously (have thought only slightly) about God’s kindness, forbearance and patience which is intended to lead us to repentance; a change of direction in life. To PRESUME we can acknowledge Christ and then live anyway we choose, expecting God’s grace to just automatically take care of our sin, is to misunderstand the relationship we are to have with the Lord as well as what His grace is all about. (note Jude 4) Such action also PRESUMES God’s patience is never-ending -- a gamble we dare not take.

Praise God for the riches of His kindness, forbearance, and patience! We need it all. However, let us respond appropriately by seeking to please Him in all we do. As we acknowledge the things that are out of place in the lives of others let us consider our own actions as well. When we are willing to recognize and remove the log from our own eye we will be able to see much clearer as we help another get the “speck” out of theirs. ( Matthew 7:5) We will also be more likely to be gentler in the process.

Have a great day MAINTAINING A PENITENT SPIRIT BEFORE GOD!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on Repentance