MORNING MANNA 4-28-21
SEEING YOURSELF AS YOU ARE
I love to study the prayers of Paul. They are like windows into his heart. I mention this because of the his frequent request for eyes of their understanding to be opened. He was greatly concerned about their need to see the truth and avoid error and it’s consequences.
In dealing with people I am often amazed by how easily people overlook the obvious – especially in regards to themselves. They fail to see their faults that are clear as day to others. In some instances they are extremely critical of certain sins of others when that particular sin is one of their glaring faults – a fault that everyone else can see, except they themselves. They are either blind to their faults or they are trying to hide them by diverting your attention away from them to others. They often say, “I hate ___” when the named sin is one of their glaring faults. They condemn in others what they condone or tolerate in themselves. They expect others to live to a higher standard than they do.
Evidently such people don’t know themselves as well as they think they do. They go through life without ever seeing themselves as they really are. They try to project an image of what they want others to think they are – and it;s always exaggerated because they want to put themselves in the best possible light. They live behind a mask – more concerned about their reputation than they are about their character. When a person professes to be a Christian you would think they would get beyond this, but old habits die hard and the flesh is persistent.
The major problem in this is the failure to examine ourselves in the light of God’s word – the only way to get a true picture. We’re kidding ourselves if we think the average church member is truly a student of God’s word. Most people spend as little time as possible studying the Bible. Consequently they feel satisfied with themselves rather than seeking to grow spiritually.
Another thing to keep in mind is this. Even our best effort to examine ourselves will end in failure without God’s help. We need the Holy Spirit’s help in seeing ourselves as we are. Our daily prayer ought to be, as the song says, “Search me O God and know my heart today”. Let that be your prayer and godliness your pursuit, and growth will be your prize. – HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E E
Humble, TX. 77346
