Love in Conflict

Not too long ago, the Lord reveled a wonderful truth and deadly sin to me. The difference between the two draws the line between spiritual life and spiritual death. The deadly sin is being aggravated by others' short comings. The wonderful truth was that when I truly loved people, I would not be frustrated by their faults, but I would have a pure desire to help them overcome their sin.

When we see a brother or sister fall into sin, we can be motivated to call them to repentance because their sin aggravates us or because we have a deep love and desire to see them do well. If we attempt to correct others because we are frustrated with them, we are in a much deeper sin than they. Brother or Sister I exhort you to remove this plank out of your own eye before you ever go for anything in someone else's eye (Matthew 7:3-5). Undoubtedly, any success you have will cause more damage or permanent blindness in the one you are assisting. The sin of frustration and aggravation has its root in a lack of love for your fellow person. If you are not walking in love you already stand condemned yourself! The one who does not love abides in DEATH (1 John 3:14). Repent and then in genuine love you may be able to assist your fellow man or woman to find deliverance from their faults.

I have been guilty of this horrendous evil too many times. It is an abomination in the sight of God and we cannot walk in impatience with others and still walk with God (1 John 4:20-21). Next time someone does an evil act and you find impatience or disgust welling up within you, repent and embrace the Love of our Father. Only when you partake of the Love He has for us will you find His power to bring life to those who are falling short.

Don't believe the lie that you can shine light on another if you yourself are in the darkness.