If we live, we make mistakes. We will never be perfect here on earth, as in 'man's perfection?. Just last night, I got a note written in my Guestbook that told me to ?quit judging?, ?who do you think you are??, 'may God forgive you?. But, in telling me all that, the person wouldn't leave the page on which he found me ?judging?, nor would he give me an email address to ask the question. Plus, I found ?judging? in that very entry in the Guestbook.

Too often we think WE are closer to God than others. We forget that it is GOD that draws us closer to Him through the Word, and His Spirit. When we get to the point that we think we know what's in a person's heart, then we are getting a little arrogant. Only God knows my heart, and hopefully, He sees me a little different than the person writing that note.

I am not perfect. But, each day, I try to get closer to God. Like Paul, I have to make a conscious decision to ?press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling?. Only God can make me perfect (mature). If I make mistakes, only God is able to forgive me, and set me on the right track. If, when we saw people in what ?WE THINK? are mistakes, wrong thinking, etc., then the correct thing is to take it to God, pray about it and let Him do the chastising. It only turns people off to other Christians, when we take it on ourselves to tell them we know what their problem is and try to ?change them?. Let GOD do it; He can get through without hurt feelings.

Philippians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Psalms 18:32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

Copyright 2005 by Barbara Sanders, Empire, AL. Used by permission.
For more devotionals, visit The Master's Table Archives at:
http://www.entourages.com/barbs/Masterarchives.html
Created at Barbara's Entourage: http://www.entourages.com/barbs, "my humble abode".