How Do We Look?...

How do we look at our lives?  As someone commented the other day, 'It's amazing how, when we like something, we seem to think that God automatically likes it as well'.

1Corinthians 11:28  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

This is in reference  to the Lord's supper of course, but think on the principle of examining ones' self.  Some people are more harsh with themselves than they would be with others.  The cause may be because we know our self, we know our motives and we feel like we 'should have done better', or known better, or etc.  Then there are those who can't see their own short comings, and tend to make excuses when they fall short.

1Corinthians 11:31  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

Simply put, if we stand back and do an honest evaluation, maybe ask a trusted friend--one who is honest--using the scriptures to measure yourself we can change the areas where we fall short. The thought, 'Well, I'm better than so-and-so,' should not enter the process:

2Corinthians 10:12 For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with certain of them that commend themselves: but they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

If we compare our self with our self, or with someone else for that matter, we are using the wrong standard.  If we were building, or constructing some item we could use a long stick to measure with, but how accurate would that be?  No, we would want to use something that would give us a consistent reading and measurement.  Using the word of God is the best measurement. 

We should be able to look at where we are and see progress to where we want to be.  We need to Set good goals and work toward them.

Galatians 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23)  meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. 24)  And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof. 25)  If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk.   

There was a time when goodness prevailed.  Not that evil and bad things were not present, but generally speaking people were kind one to another, showing the 'fruits' of the Christian teaching. 
 Ephesians 5:9  (for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10)  proving what is well-pleasing unto the Lord;   
Yes, goodness did prevail because we expected Christians to live and walk in a certain way.  For them to do otherwise was --hypocritical, but...

 When I was growing up my family didn't go to 'church'  because there was the feeling that 'if we keep the golden rule then we have fulfilled what God would have us to do'.  They didn't see going to Church as necessary.  Just keep the Golden Rule...because some of them Christians are hypocrites.

But like using a long stick (instead of using a tape measure) to measure our building of the item-- we were measuring with the wrong criteria.  The Golden Rule was and is an important teaching, but it isn't the total teaching in the Bible. 

Some people are hypocrites, but some are just struggling folks that need encouragement.  There is no need to change the standards because we don't feel like everyone can do everything exactly right.  We don't set the standard, God does.

Because we were using our own ideas of what and how things ought to be, our foundations began to wobble.  My family wasn't the only family in the world at that time who  had the same idea.  Consequently our society began to look for 'little gray' areas. Certain things became acceptable to us that shouldn't have been acceptable until little by little the foundation gave way.

We all know we sin and fall short, but there is a difference between slipping and falling into a mud puddle, and sitting down and playing in it.  However, using your short comings to condone MY short comings won't play in Peoria, nor will it excuse us into heaven. 

It is important to God that we hear and keep the teachings of Jesus.  Not just the ones we like, but the ones that are more difficult.  Not just the Golden rule, but all of the rule; all of the standard.

John 12:48  He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day.