Embrace the Within no. 166

He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man guide [another] blind man? Will they not both fall into a hole in the ground? A student is not superior to his teacher; but everyone, after he has been completely trained, will be like his teacher. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice or consider the log that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, allow me to take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite (play actor, pretender), first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

Luke 6:39-42 AMP

Relationships are tough for us. I want to be in charge of every one and every thing around me. Well, not me personally, BUT humans want that control. And it is easy to see in how often folks try to micromanage every component of their day. I gave up that control a while ago. Way before the plague hit I gave up that control and started looking for the One who was in control.

BUT we can see this action a lot in ourselves and in others. We think that we have nothing more to learn. We think that we have got it all figured out. We think that we know better than our teachers or even God. We think that we are sinless and guiltless. We think that we are perfected already. We think that we have nothing more to work out before God. We think that we have plenty of time to point out the flaws of others rather than working on our own faults. We are hypocrites. We are pretending. We are lying.

I will tell you that every day is a struggle, as Paul wrote, “For I alow not that which I do: for what I would, that do I not: but what I hate, that do I. If I doe then that which I woulde not, I consent to the Lawe, that it is good. Nowe then, it is no more I, that doe it, but sinne that dwelleth in me” (Romans 7:15-17). I have a lot to work on just like Paul did. I don’t mean I am physically fighting myself all day BUT I still live in a world full of broken people and saturated with sin. And even though I am working on my righteousness, there are a lot of people not working on being righteous. There are a lot of folks that are working with the ones with whom I need to struggle because, again as Paul wrote, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, and against the worldly gouernours, the princes of the darkenesse of this worlde, against spirituall wickednesses, which are in ye hie places” (Ephesians 6:12). And I need to struggle against those spirits while I walk in the Spirit.

I pray that I focus on my Walk in the Way of the Lord. I pray that I am humble and teachable. I pray that I look to learn and not to micromanage. I pray that I give control to God to lead as I follow. I pray that I look at all I need to fix in my life. I pray that I work to fix those things with which I struggle. And I pray that He guides me to be a better a light, a better example, and a better Ambassador of His Kingdom. I pray that my work on attaining His righteousness on this side of eternity is a light to those in my home, my community, and my life. I pray that I take seriously my work as an Ambassador of His Kingdom as I walk with Him each day.

I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #NotMyWayYHWH