Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Another's Servant

Romans 14:3The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. 4Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

A lesson reminded to me yesterday as I continued through Romans...  I carry the law so many times for other believers of how they should live, what they should be doing.  What arrogance!  What pride!  Do I really think that I am able to judge someone else's servant?  Who do I really think I am?

It is subtle.  Not so obvious judgment.  Sounds like exhortation.  Sounds like glory given to God for how he worked in my life.

Jeramiah 17:7 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
       whose confidence is in him.
 8 He will be like a tree planted by the water
       that sends out its roots by the stream.
       It does not fear when heat comes;
       its leaves are always green.
       It has no worries in a year of drought
       and never fails to bear fruit."
 9 The heart is deceitful above all things
       and beyond cure.
       Who can understand it?
 10 "I the LORD search the heart
       and examine the mind,
       to reward a man according to his conduct,
       according to what his deeds deserve."

The Lord has searched my heart and found deceit in it.

I am one who trusts in the LORD and have placed my confidence in him.
I have seen him carry me through the drought and the heat and then I have found that my heart is deceitful even in the expression of his carrying me.

Thank you for searching my heart, opening my eyes to see.  Help me to not judge your servants for I have no right to judge.  You are able to make your servant stand.  You have accepted him.  Why would I judge him?  It is only by you that I am able to stand.  I am not acceptable and yet you have accepted me by your power and your name, accomplishing for me what I am never able to do.  Praise you Jesus. 

Forgive me for, in my pride, judging. 

I am but dust.