Remember Where You Come From…

 

So often as Christians, we can get all puffed up and proud as we pass through other people's lives. We seem to think that because we are Christian, that gives us the right to judge others and condemn them for their actions. To say and do things that are neither kind nor understanding.

It is important to speak grace into the lives of those around us and not speak darkness into them. It involves the great commandment "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." It also involves carefully considering the words you choose to share with others. To be careful not to speak from anger or frustration and to measure the depth of impact on others before you say anything to them.

 

Jesus shared a parable that shows a great truth and that relates to this idea of forgiving others and not unleashing judgement upon them. In Matthew 21: 21 -35 Jesus described a man who came before his master owing much. The master was moved to sell all of the man's possessions to recover the debt. The man begged for forgiveness and the master forgave all of his debts. However, after he had left his master, he came across another man who owed him money and without mercy had him thrown into prison. Others told his master about the man's actions and justice was swiftly served. He too, was thrown into jail until he could repay his master all that he owed.

 

When we as Christians, are harsh and unforgiving to others we run the risk of putting ourselves in the same position as the unforgiving servant. In Christ Jesus we are forgiven much and it behooves us to forgive others much. If we are unforgiving to others we run the risk of incurring God's wrath on ourselves because God has forgiven us much, so we are to forgive others much.

 

At heart we Christians are sinners and sin has dominion within our hearts. This is because firstly, sin is a deed for which we need forgiveness and we get this when we first believe on Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God who bore our sins on the Cross. In short when the Saviour justifies us our sins are forgiven.

 

Secondly, sin is depravity and causes mankind to wallow in wickedness. Scripture speaks of a promise that the Saviour makes to us about this situation and His solution for it. Ezekiel 36:26 puts it this way “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh…" So God dwells in us and gives us a completely new heart to lift us out of a state of sinful depravity. This is sanctification and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

 

Thirdly, sin is a despotic ruler in us and fights with us continually to lead us back into depravity. The way out of this continual siren song of sin is to replace sin with Christ Jesus as our ruler. Scripture has this to say about the subject. Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." and Romans 12: 1-2 says this "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect…"

 

So friends, we need to be aware of how we interact with others taking care to speak righteousness and Christ into their lives. We also need to be aware of the battle between sin and righteousness in our own hearts and minds. We need to understand that we are no better than anyone else because we are sinners just like them. In Christ a work is in progress in us so that Christ Jesus may present us perfect before the Father in the resurrection.

 

From <https://www.openbible.info/topics/making_christ_our_ruler