Have you ever noticed how the things that bother you in other - TopicsExpress



          

Have you ever noticed how the things that bother you in other people sometimes (often) bother you because they put a spotlight on things that you don’t like in yourself? We might not always be aware of it, but it is typically true. We are quick to find faults in others but often very slow to take a look within
because it’s so much easier to fuss over someone else’s issues than to look at our own.Every now and then, however, it’s a good idea to take a good, long, honest look in the mirror.The mirror doesn’t lie. Well, some of them might not be exactly accurate, i.e. funhouse. I had this cheap-o full length mirror for years that made me look about 4 inches taller and 20 lbs. lighter. I kinda liked seeing myself tall and skinny. If only it were true! Taking a look in the mirror is a good idea. Let me rephrase that: Taking a look in the mirror is imperative! It’s so easy for us to get absorbed in other people’s junk to the point that we forget that we have our own
but we do. We all have areas in our lives that need more work, where we need to grow, where we need to allow God to refine us. There are no exceptions.Growing and maturing are never ending.In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave some great guidelines to follow when it comes to fussing over someone else’s junk rather than dealing with our own. He said:“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.” Matthew 7:1-5 The MessageIn other words
look in the mirror and wash your own face.We certainly can’t begin to see our own junk if we’re not even looking for it, or if we’re not open to the fact that we have junk. Even when we do look, sometimes we are still unaware. Maybe we’re deceived. Maybe we’re in denial. Maybe it’s a blind spot and we just don’t get it. This is why we, like David, need to ask God to search us and to reveal to us the areas where we need to grow.“Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life.” Psalm 130:23-24 The MessageFor some, it may be scary to think about taking an honest look in the mirror, even more so to ask God to investigate your life, because you know you have stuff in there that shouldn’t be. However, when you do, this is exactly where you will find true freedom. When the facade you hide behind comes crashing down and you get honest with yourself and with the Lord, you will find yourself poised for the greatest, deepest healing you have ever known. You can bank on it.
Posted on: Wed, 28 Aug 2013 04:06:29 +0000

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