A Thought

“Do not take to heart everything people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you.  For many times, also, your own heart has known that even you have cursed others.”  Ecclesiastes 7:21-22

It occurs to me that for all the praying we do and need to do, there can probably no more important element of our prayer time than self-examination; looking inward to find those dark spots within that prevent us from being all the Lord has created and called us to be.  Even the writer of Ecclesiastes acknowledges such: “There is not a just (righteous) person on earth who does good and does not sin” (7:20).

To overcome this, then, we must resolve within our hearts to hold ourselves accountable before we can put too much emphasis on holding others accountable.  And this is big because accountability is a significant component of church life!  Not just to be in someone else’s business but to help one another through this challenging journey called “life”!

Look within.  Find a quiet space, pray through Scripture, and look deeply into what we are being told.  Though we all have different spiritual gifts according to our Lord’s own good purposes, His message to us will always be the same: I love you.  And when you doubt this, look to Calvary and see where you should have been but where I chose to go in your place.

We owe our Lord at least an honest evaluation.  From this, I think, He will grant to us peace like we’ve not known – when we come to terms with ourselves … long before we curse the sins of others.

Blessings,

Michael