I have found myself so many times facing the temptation or
having already fallen into the temptation of pointing fingers at others. I have
found myself criticizing the mistakes of others, talking about how one is a
liar or a cheat or a gossiper and so many other negative comments. I have
always expected them to be perfect, always looking at the mistakes in their
lives. I even went ahead to discuss other people’s mistakes with other people.
Then one day God made me realize that I am no from them different. Many times I
have prayed for God to make me holy as he is. I have struggled with him as he
tried to mold me into who I am today (not yet perfect, but better than I was
yesterday and running my race with His help) but I easily forget that other
people struggle with God too to help them to be holy.
Paul in 1 Corinthians 9 talks about a race that we are all
in. in this race however, we are not running to be the first but to all get a
crown each. This therefore means that we are so many in this race. It means
also that because the aim is not running to be in the first position but to win
faithfully, we are all not in the same position or level. This is true because
when I look at my life and that of others, I see so many ahead of me and others
behind. In many cases, I find myself going to those ahead of me to ask them for
advice. I also look at those in the bible who ran their races of faith, and so
many times I am encouraged to go on. I have come to realize that many of those
ahead of me in the race of faith do not look at me and criticize me or put me
down but they always encourage me. Some choose to even share their experiences
with me or even hold my hand and let me walk with them.
This reminds me of the words in Hebrews 3:13; but encourage one another daily as
long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s
deceitfulness. The truth is that we have all come from so far. We were
all sinners but Christ died for us and thus saved us. However, our freedom from
the slavery of sin depends on our acceptance of Christ. Furthermore, our time
of coming to Christ was and has never been the same. We all accept Christ in
different times, some early, while others later in their lives. Others may also
have had a walk like that of Peter, one day trusting in Jesus another day
losing his faith in Him, them believing, denying Him and later having the
church founded from his speaking on the day of Pentecost. This is to mean that
it is not and will never be the same for us.
However, God expects us to encourage one another in this
walk. He expects that when we look back and see our brothers and sisters struggling
in an area, that we take their hand and walk with them. Words of judgment
should never flow out of our mouths. Instead, we should encourage them to grow
in holiness. We were all at the starting line, and there were and will always
be someone ahead. It is not a wonder for example in Titus when the older women
are commanded to teach the younger women how to run their home. We should
extend grace to those behind us, hold their hands without negative judgment and
walk with them that we may enjoy our crowns together in the end.
God bless you and keep growing in Him.
