Perspectives

Correction.  Ugh.  You know, I want to say I don't like correction, but that would not be entirely true.  I so much want to be like Jesus, following His footsteps, that I see God's correction as healthy and helpful....I want Him to search my heart and see if there is any wrong ways, attitudes, desires.  David said in Psalm 139:23:  Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Correction, although often painful and difficult to hear, is good for us.  It also proves out the fact of our adoption as children of God.

When God pointed out an offensive attitude this week, I felt my heart sink at this correction.  It broke my heart to find out that this was how the Lord was seeing my attitudes and behavior.  The Lord brought me to Matthew 18:21-35.  The parable of the unforgiving debtor.

     21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”  22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!
23 “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. 24 In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. 25 He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt.
26 “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ 27 Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.
28 “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.  29 “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. 30 But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.  31 “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. 32 Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ 34 Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.
35 “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”

Oh my.  That is certainly not a complimentary passage to be compared to,  Lord, is that really me? And it just cut me to the core to answer that question with a "Yes."  Forgive me Father.   This was the way I thought and acted whenever anyone else did something I didn't like.  This was the garbage that was in my heart.  I have been forgiven so much....imagine I couldn't do the same for others.  I have been battling a long time with a critical and judgmental spirit and I believe the Lord is really asking me to step it up and fight harder against this heart sickness.  He wants it gone. I am pretty sure He is sick of it in my life.  And so am I.   Jesus said in Matthew 9:13  No go and learn the meaning of this Scripture; I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.   And then He went on to say in verse 14, "For I have come to call  not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners."   Well, I certainly fit that bill....but how many times to I walk around in my self-righteousness, condemning those around me for being less than I think they should be.  Whether it's because they don't do the job I think the should, (and maybe they don't work hard or do the right thing....but that's between them and God, and I don't know what's in their hearts, what brought them to the place they are in life), or because someone doesn't see as important the same things I do....whatever....IT'S NOT MY PLACE TO BE JUDGE AND JURY AND SENTENCER.  In other words, "get over myself.

This was a really hard correction to hear.  But I am glad the Lord brought it.  My goal is to actively and consistently walk out 2 Corinthians 10:5  We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God.  We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.  All rebellious thoughts in me, actions and attitudes that may keep others from knowing who God is and how much He loves them, have to GO!  I never want to be stumbling block to someone, preventing them from seeking the Lord, because they see a Christian who is judgmental instead of walking in love.

Lord, this was definitely hard to hear.  But I am thankful.  I pray that You will continue to work with me in this area.  I am so sorry to be an offense to You.  Lord, forgive me.  Please redeem my heart and mind attitudes, replace those that are selfish and self righteous with ones that display Your everlasting love and sweet mercy.  You are a good, good Father.  And thank You that correction need not bring condemnation....I am not condemned, but growing in the grace of the Savior that loved me and died for me.  And because He is risen, I can move forward and walk in victory.  Praise God!!

 Psalm 51

1 Have mercy on me, O God,

    because of your unfailing love.

Because of your great compassion,

    blot out the stain of my sins.

2 Wash me clean from my guilt.

    Purify me from my sin.

3 For I recognize my rebellion;

    it haunts me day and night.

4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;

    I have done what is evil in your sight.

You will be proved right in what you say,

    and your judgment against me is just.

5 For I was born a sinner—

    yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.

6 But you desire honesty from the womb,

    teaching me wisdom even there.

7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;

    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Oh, give me back my joy again;

    you have broken me—

    now let me rejoice.

9 Don’t keep looking at my sins.

    Remove the stain of my guilt.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.

    Renew a loyal spirit within me.

11 Do not banish me from your presence,

    and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

    and make me willing to obey you.

13 Then I will teach your ways to rebels,

    and they will return to you.

14 Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;

    then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.

15 Unseal my lips, O Lord,

    that my mouth may praise you.

16 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.

    You do not want a burnt offering.

17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.

    You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

18 Look with favor on Zion and help her;

    rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit—

    with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings.

    Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.