Monthly Archives: January 2014

That Sin Is Mine!

Scripture

1 John 1:8 (New Century Version)

If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Consider

A sure step toward resolving a quarrel is to confess our own sins before we accuse others of theirs. Our refusing to forgive often stems from a stubborn attitude of moral superiority. Yes, we claim, I’ve made mistakes, but I’m not as bad as she is!

If we are willing to look, we will see our sins most glaringly displayed in our relationship conflicts. Often the qualities we can’t stand in the other person are the very ones we refuse to see in ourselves.

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Stinging Arrows

Scripture

Romans 9:25-28 (The Message)

Hosea put it well:

I’ll call nobodies and make them somebodies; I’ll call the unloved and make them beloved. In the place where they yelled out, “You’re nobody!” they’re calling you “God’s living children.”

Isaiah maintained the same emphasis:

If each grain of sand on the seashore were numbered and the sum labeled “chosen of God,” they’d be numbers still, not names; salvation comes by personal selection. God doesn’t count us; he calls us by name. Arithmetic is not his focus.

Consider

God’s love for you is personal.

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How To Deflect Cruel Words

Scripture

Psalm 69:18-20 (The Living Bible)

A psalm of David.

Come, Lord, and rescue me. Ransom me from all my enemies. You know how they talk about me, and how they so shamefully dishonor me. You see them all and know what each has said.

Their contempt has broken my heart; my spirit is heavy within me.

Consider

The old adage “sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me” is a lie.

David wrote that his heart was broken by the cruel things being said about him. We all know what it feels like to be falsely accused or criticized, to be mocked for a mistake.

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Deep Rooted

Scripture

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (New Living Translation)

But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.

They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water.

Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought.

Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.

Consider

We are deeper than our relationships. We get into trouble when we expect our friends and loved ones to satisfy all our needs and give us our sense of worth.

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