From The Crucible (by Pastor Linda Pugsley)

Do you find yourself admonishing others as to what they should or should not do, all the while not doing these same things yourself? Do you categorize and judge people and put them into little “boxes” in your mind? Do you just keep them there and not even see their growth, all the while thinking yourself to be growing in leaps and bounds?

Maybe the problem is attitude vs. platitude. Are you just repeating religious clichés (platitudes) or are you a serious student before our great and wonderful God, willing to have Him change your heart and let Him reign (attitude)?

Pretty deep meditation on that one, heh! Take a quiet moment and read Ephesians 2:14-22 and see what the Lord shows you. We let so many things beset us and we draw so many judgments on others, instead of having an attitude that realizes that God uses all of our circumstances…for our good, if we let Him. We may never know through whom God may want to speak to us or to get our attention and touch our hearts.

Before shining that spotlight too quickly on someone else’s faults, perhaps we could instead ask God to turn the spotlight back on us. Pray for the people or circumstances that aggravate you the most and you might be surprised by who experiences the greatest change…it just might be you! If you practice putting away dissent and disgust, God will give you peace. Curl up in your favorite chair with a hot cup of tea and read Psalm 133, Acts 10:24-48 and Ephesians 4:3-6. It’ll do ‘ya good! Endure the fire…it’s producing pure gold!

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