People do
unpredictable things. We say, “What were
you thinking?” We have all done some things
we’re not very proud of. When people make a blunder, it is easy to point
fingers and judge but the right thing to do is to forgive, love, and restore
them.
Recently, I got a call from a friend informing me how Billy Graham’s grandson had succumbed to some indiscretion. He wasn’t just informing but reminding me to show mercy. I agreed.
That’s exactly the attitude of Jesus. The Bible says, “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world” (John 3:17 NIV).
Once, an adulterous woman was brought to Jesus. The religious fanatics of the day threw her at the feet of Jesus claiming that they had caught her in the act. What a religious duty to look through the keyhole! I always wonder why they didn’t catch the man.
I see the dust rise. This young woman had gone astray. It could have been your daughter, my daughter. Jesus was the only person qualified to judge her but He wouldn’t. He said, “Let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!"
If you want to be like Jesus, quit throwing stones at people!
Celebrity or not we’re all under the clutches of sin. By the way, there’s no celebrity Christian or VIP sinner in God’s eyes. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
As long as we’re here on earth, none of us are immune to sin. Let's not judge people simply because their sin is different than ours. God doesn’t see any difference.
Some say, “But these are leaders in a position of influence and authority!” So what? If we’ve not prayed for a person to walk uprightly before God, we have no right to judge them.
Whenever I’m tempted to point fingers at others, I’m reminded of the terrible mistakes I’ve made over the course of my life. I sinned deliberately. I knew better. But against all good judgment, I failed. How grateful I am for God’s mercy and people’s forgiveness.
9-year-old Kim Phuc suffered terrible burns by the napalm bomb dropped into her village during the Vietnam War. As she ran for her life, naked, photographer Nick Ut shot a picture of her that decorated the covers of every magazine and newspaper in the U.S. Phuc spent more than a year in hospitals. After dozens of reconstructive surgeries, Kim survived. Now 52, she lives just outside Toronto, a wife, mother and the subject of the iconic picture in 1972.
Kim could not find peace. She wanted to disappear. She even wished for death. She thought if she died she wouldn't have to suffer mentally, physically, and emotionally. She began to seek answers, studying different religious texts. At 19, she became a Christian, and she credits her faith for helping her embrace life again.
"When I became Christian, I have a wonderful connection -- the relationship between me, and Jesus, and God. And from that point," she says, "I learned to forgive."
Clearly, if anyone should have difficulty forgiving, it would be Kim. But she allowed God’s forgiveness and mercy to flow towards her assailants. What was humanly impossible was made possible through God.
Let us not be so quick to judge. Let us not drag people through the mud when they make a grave mistake. Christian army is the only army that kills its wounded. Where is the compassion? Beware! We too are susceptible to fall into temptation. Instead of pointing fingers, let us pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Don’t shoot the wounded. Let us show mercy and restore the fallen!
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted” (Galatians 6:1 NIV).
Spread Your Influence: http://www.buildinternational.org
Stay Inspired: https://www.facebook.com/BuildInternationalMinistries
See Your Impact: https://www.flickr.com/photos/125710914@N05/
Recently, I got a call from a friend informing me how Billy Graham’s grandson had succumbed to some indiscretion. He wasn’t just informing but reminding me to show mercy. I agreed.
That’s exactly the attitude of Jesus. The Bible says, “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world” (John 3:17 NIV).
Once, an adulterous woman was brought to Jesus. The religious fanatics of the day threw her at the feet of Jesus claiming that they had caught her in the act. What a religious duty to look through the keyhole! I always wonder why they didn’t catch the man.
I see the dust rise. This young woman had gone astray. It could have been your daughter, my daughter. Jesus was the only person qualified to judge her but He wouldn’t. He said, “Let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!"
If you want to be like Jesus, quit throwing stones at people!
Celebrity or not we’re all under the clutches of sin. By the way, there’s no celebrity Christian or VIP sinner in God’s eyes. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
As long as we’re here on earth, none of us are immune to sin. Let's not judge people simply because their sin is different than ours. God doesn’t see any difference.
Some say, “But these are leaders in a position of influence and authority!” So what? If we’ve not prayed for a person to walk uprightly before God, we have no right to judge them.
Whenever I’m tempted to point fingers at others, I’m reminded of the terrible mistakes I’ve made over the course of my life. I sinned deliberately. I knew better. But against all good judgment, I failed. How grateful I am for God’s mercy and people’s forgiveness.
9-year-old Kim Phuc suffered terrible burns by the napalm bomb dropped into her village during the Vietnam War. As she ran for her life, naked, photographer Nick Ut shot a picture of her that decorated the covers of every magazine and newspaper in the U.S. Phuc spent more than a year in hospitals. After dozens of reconstructive surgeries, Kim survived. Now 52, she lives just outside Toronto, a wife, mother and the subject of the iconic picture in 1972.
Kim could not find peace. She wanted to disappear. She even wished for death. She thought if she died she wouldn't have to suffer mentally, physically, and emotionally. She began to seek answers, studying different religious texts. At 19, she became a Christian, and she credits her faith for helping her embrace life again.
"When I became Christian, I have a wonderful connection -- the relationship between me, and Jesus, and God. And from that point," she says, "I learned to forgive."
Clearly, if anyone should have difficulty forgiving, it would be Kim. But she allowed God’s forgiveness and mercy to flow towards her assailants. What was humanly impossible was made possible through God.
Let us not be so quick to judge. Let us not drag people through the mud when they make a grave mistake. Christian army is the only army that kills its wounded. Where is the compassion? Beware! We too are susceptible to fall into temptation. Instead of pointing fingers, let us pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Don’t shoot the wounded. Let us show mercy and restore the fallen!
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted” (Galatians 6:1 NIV).
Spread Your Influence: http://www.buildinternational.org
Stay Inspired: https://www.facebook.com/BuildInternationalMinistries
See Your Impact: https://www.flickr.com/photos/125710914@N05/
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