Have you ever had one of those … interesting conversations?
I was wondering how our mutual friend was doing. For the next ten minutes a diatribe was outlined to me of the things that our mutual friend was doing wrong. I was really getting it in terms of just how poorly this person was doing. I was left in no doubt that our mutual friend, who claimed to be a Christian, had some work to do to back up his claim with behaviour.
A few moments later, I asked the person who was telling me about our mutual friend, how they themselves were doing. At first I got a lovely picture of all being well. A few moments later, there was a mild disclosure that perhaps there was an area of a little struggle. Without much in the way of prodding the facade of all being well became dismantled to reveal some serious issues that this person was going through.
It was an interesting position to be in. On the one hand our mutual friend was hammered for failings. On the other hand the reporter offering those views, who also professed to follow Jesus, was going through some serious failings as well.
Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye’, when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:3-5)
Thankfully for the situation, I was going through issues too. In fact ever since I’ve been following Jesus, I’ve had issues. Issues crop up often to keep me working with Jesus to purify myself even as He is pure.
That doesn’t stop me from giving a rebuke when one is needed. If a friend is in the wrong and I know, it’s my responsibility to help them see it for what it is.
What it does mean, however, is that there’s no room for completely dismissing people and being in judgement of them as though I’ve never done wrong.
Mercy-filled relationships are full of recognising the mercy we receive in our lives and offering that to others. Jesus tells the story later of someone who received mercy for a lot and didn’t extend mercy to those who needed a little. That’s the sort of person that sets themselves up for judgement by the one who really is in a position to give that judgement.
It’s a matter of the heart how we engage with each other. When we remember who we are in Christ – humble, meek, hungering for righteousness, merciful, pure and a peace-maker – it will inform us how we can cultivate and maintain challenging relationships that ensure we grow without dismissing each other completely out of hand.
This helps when it comes to those interesting conversations.
(Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 