I have been mulling over this post for a very long time. It has been setting there, marinating in my mind for years. It comes largely as a response to one thing: It is troublesome to listen to a person talk at great length about their tremendous love for God and a minute latter listen to them spit venom at His people. These are the type of questions and probings which I search my own heart with as I seek to walk with Christ. I hope that, if this is read, that it might cut into the heart of the Christian, like the surgeon's knife, so as to heal.
The disciple of Christ must be self aware. The disciple must test himself.
If your study of the Word is leading you toward a progressive growth in haughtiness and pride rather than a place of meekness and humility – I would caution you greatly about the nature of your “growth.”
One does not draw near to the God of holiness and walk away feeling high on them self nor pompous toward His people.
We can miss this entirely if we fail to connect the two greatest commandments – Mark 12: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." Notice our LORD links these two together without room for separation. Jesus marries the two thoughts.
It is an easy thing to claim a high and mighty love for God who cannot be seen, but the easiest way to see through to the truthfulness of this claim is to view one’s treatment of God’s people. 1 John 4: 20"If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.”
I can talk a great deal about my love for God but where is my love for His people? How much and in what way am I a servant to His people? Are my hands extended to the weak and poor? Am I sacrificing any of my liberties for infants in Christ, as well as instructing them in maturity? Am I patient, kind, tender and giving with His people?
Another way to ask the same question (and I find that it cuts to the heart of the matter for me) is this: Are you finding it easier to find fault with your brothers and sisters as you “grow” or do you find it to be more common for you to cover a multitude of sins in sincere love?
Make certain that your growth is real; that your progeny is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control rather than a worldly swelling up in haughtiness and criticism toward the people of God.
It is a difficult thing to ‘walk worthy of the calling’ and far too many have come to the conclusion that it is something that you can just meander through without deep inspection. But while difficult it may be, it is a fully worthwhile assignment; for we find that as we grow we glorify our LORD. And this is life indeed.
