Accept People Where They're At, Eh?

If you've been reading my blog lately, you might have noticed that I've been discouraged by the way some Christians live their lives~ attitudes, bad decisions, wrong friends, wrong goals, living for self, etc. I'm going to get very open and honest in this post, be warned. :)
A couple posts ago, I mentioned that God has convicted about my judgmental attitude of others through His Word, people, and circumstances. I also mentioned that I realized it was time for me to take a good look at myself, from God's perspective. This process can be very eye-opening, slightly depressing, and even  painful. It is a necessary process if we have any desire to become more like Christ though. It should yield confession, asking for forgiveness, and repentance ( a change in the opposite direction).

"And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not"~Hebrews 12:5-7

 I have come to the realization that I have been sitting up on my high horse (very good visual if you stop and think about it for a moment). From this angle, I can see all the faults and failures of others. I can gather pieces of information, assess the situation, and come to a conclusion about what the person is thinking, saying, or doing. (Usually it's a wrong conclusion, btw) From my high horse, I do not communicate or interact, but merely observe and assess. How can I, for one second, pinpoint another human being's thought and/or motives, especially without speaking to them? Especially without taking the time to get to know them, to really get to know them? Especially without showing  I love them and want God's best for them by building a trusting relationship with them? Who am I to I think I can see into someone's heart?

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do"~Hebrews 4:12-13

This is something I've been struggling with for a little while now. I thought I had guarded myself from becoming cynical and judgmental. In the past, I had a spiritual mentor whom I very much loved and respected who did this to me often. If I made any decision that she didn't agree with, I quickly knew about her displeasure and disappointment. That was hurtful. I prayed about the decisions I made and was trying to follow the Lord and His Word. When she showed her great displeasure, I would search the Scriptures again and pray more, coming to the same conclusion. I chose to do what God wanted me to do. I think eventually, she gave up on me. Over time, I became bitter and didn't even know it.

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? "~Jeremiah 17:9

Thankfully, I have the Holy Spirit to convict and open my eyes. I apologized to this lady for being bitter towards her, behaving rudely, and avoiding her. I know she only wanted God's best for me and was fully convinced that her way was the right way, but I wasn't feeling the love. There is something in the advice to parents to make sure you praise your children much more than you rebuke them.

While Scott and I were on our recent vacation to PEI, he went to Prayer Meeting/Bible Study, but I had to stay home because I was having the sickest day of my life. Poor me, haha! Anyway, the next day he told me about the message and how good it was. As we were discussing the thoughts behind this very post a couple days ago, he reminded me of something he had heard that Wednesday night. Satan has many devices to try to make us fall as a Christian. Do not think that because at one time in your life you had victory over some sin,  you will now never struggle with it again. That is a lie and we know who the father of lies is. We are in a battle as Christians, a battle against our own flesh; a battle against ourself. I thought I didn't have a problem with being judgmental and cynical, but I was wrong.

We recently visited with two wonderful Christians and were very encouraged, as always. The lady is so loving, accepting, and godly that I can't even describe how loved she is by all. She shared a lot of her past experiences as a missionary with us. I'll say more about some things she shared with us in my next post, for which I am very thankful. She wanted to give Scott some advice, him being a pastor, and she gave it very passionately. I'm pretty sure it spoke to me way more than it spoke to him. She said something to the effect of, "Please, please do not just sit back and observe and make conclusions about the people you are trying to minister to.
You need to accept them where they are at spiritually. You need to make them know that you love them, then you can help them grow from where they are, not where you think they should be." You can't help anyone grow as a Christian if you've already judged them without knowing them or where they really are. This is a hard lesson for me to learn, obviously since again I find myself making false assumptions about people. Just think, how much more could I be used of God in the lives of others if I make them know I love them, accept them where they are spiritually, and just want to help them grow. I thank the Lord for working in my heart and life, for speaking to me and not giving up on me, though I certainly do not deserve it.

"I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings."~Jeremiah 17:10