For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:13-14 (NLT)
I could not do without Him!
Jesus is more to me
Than all the richest, fairest gifts
Of earth could ever be.
But the more I find Him precious–
And the more I find Him true–
The more I long for you to find
What He can be to you.
Frances R. Havergal
There is no room for pride when we walk with God.
“Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me. But in vain they do worship Me, teaching as doctrine the precepts of men.'” Mark 7:6-7 (NASB)
Jesus could read human hearts–something we are not able to do. Jesus had perfect spiritual discernment–something we do not have. Jesus could call a person a hypocrite out of loving desire for that person’s spiritual awakening. When we call someone else a hypocrite, we are more likely to be venting our displeasure. Of course, there are times when we witness unmistakable hypocrisy and must speak up about it. It is not wise to let such obviously hypocritical behavior go unchecked. Paul’s counsel in Galatians 6:1 is applicable to all believers: “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.”
