| I Kings 9:1-10:29; Acts 8:14-40; Psalm 130:1-8; Proverbs 17:2-3
“A crucible is for silver and a smelter for gold, but the Lord is a tester of hearts.” (Proverbs 17:3)
It’s easy to determine the worth of silver and gold, all you have to do is put the heat on them to remove the impurities and you can set the standard of its value. It is not so easy to see this with human beings. It is impossible to judge a man because we have no idea what runs through his mind, we don’t know where he has been, what he has experienced and what life challenges have formed him. Only God knows. And only He has the ability to test that person to see what rises up.
The Bible shows us the fruit to look for in a person’s life, which is to see if they are producing actions that correlate with their confessions, but beyond that we can’t determine that person’s eternal fate. People can make estimates and that sort of thing, just talking wise, like people do, but their destiny lies in the hands of God.
I met a Christian woman one time that was as mean as you please. Wouldn’t cut you any slack and almost seemed to go after you, to make you squirm you know. Come to find out, she grew up in such abuse and mental neglect that it was amazing she was able to function. She was warped by the circumstances of her life, however, she was a work in progress. People in her inner circle said that she was a wonderful person and that God had already brought her so far.
That’s how all of us are when we come to Christ, a work in progress. So hold your judgments and worry about yourself because you don’t know where a person is in their spiritual walk. Think mercy, think grace, think assistance. They don’t need another person talking about them or telling them what a lousy person they are. It is God’s prerogative to prune the tree or cut it down (John 15:2). Let God be God!
PRAYER:
Lord, I submit my life to You and I ask You to help me stay focused on my own growth and short-comings. Teach me how to build people up, to help them become what You have created them to be. I want to be a blessing, not an inspector or a judge. That is way over my head. Forgive me for doing it in time past. I love You and I appreciate the long-suffering and grace You have extended to me, and I pray to do the same for others. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. |
