SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 12/18/2022 7:49 AM
My Worship Time Focus:
PT-2 “The Rule”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Matthew
18:10a
Message of the verse: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones;”
In my study of Hebrews I have been going over the
truth that unbelievers seem to look down their noses to those who are believers
and that is quite natural for them to do because they are dead to the things of
God and live in darkness. However it is
not acceptable for Christians to look at each other in that way, but I do know that
it happens, which certainly does not make it right. MacArthur adds “Yet, still fearing the fallen
flesh, the church has always been tempted to mimic the ways and attitudes of
the world, which it does when any of God’s people feel superior to others.”
It is unfortunately true that Christians despise each
other in many different ways. First when
we flaunt our liberty before weaker believers, causing them to go against their
consciences or next to overreact and fall deeper into legalism. “Let not him who eats regard with contempt
him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats, for
God has accepted him” (Rom. 14:3). To
use one’s liberty in Christ in such a callous way is to use it “as a covering
for evil” instead of as a servant of God as seen in 1 Peter 2:16).
There are more ways that Christians despise one another and that is when they show partiality. James says that we are never to hold “faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism” (James 2:1). The Bible teaches us that God loves and cares for His children equally. He “is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him” (Acts 10:34-35). This has always been the attitude of the Lord and He expects it to be the attitude of His people (believers). “O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? 2 He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart. 3 He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend; 4 In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honors those who fear the LORD; He swears to his own hurt and does not change”(Ps. 15:1-4). He never looks down on God’s other children, however insignificant they might seem to be.
Lord
willing we will continue look at this them in our next SD.
12/18/2022 8:11 AM
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