On How Not to Devour One Another

Well, over the last couple of weeks, I have written a little bit about the practical outworking of the inner life.

Now I would like to share a bit about something else the Lord is showing me in my personal walk with Him.

Among many, many areas of fault and weakness, the one that He is exposing most definitely to me is in the area of back biting.

You didn't think that I was above that, did you?

This is something that has always been so easy for me to see in others.
I remember a certain job that I had several years ago where the back biting was rampant.
No matter what combination of co-workers I found myself gathered with, there was always talk behind the backs of whoever wasn't present.

Isn't that horrible?

For the first year or two, I did not speak much (at all, to anyone there).
I was very quiet.
After while, I began to 'go with the flow'.
What a mistake that was.

It's not that I didn't already know how to back bite, it's just that it wasn't a common practice for me.

Before I go on here, I would like to say that I do believe that there is a place for seeking private counsel about a situation or a relationship, and I believe that there is room for speaking about things in confidence.
However, those conversations should never take the form of "secret attacks".

This reveals so much about what is going on in the heart.

It's not that our redeemed hearts are bad, it is that there is still something dark going on inside of them. Something that needs to be dealt with and kept in order.

We do not deal with that thing, but we allow our 'resident boss', as Watchman Nee has referred to Him, to deal with it.
In this process, the Spirit reveals an issue with His light, makes us aware, we acknowledge and apply the priestly work of the Lord Jesus.

His blood has covered the offense and we reckon the old man dead on the cross, thus allowing us to walk free in His victory.

I could see how some could read the last few posts that I've written and conclude that I have a perfectionists concept of the Christian life.
This is not true.

I have a perception of Jesus Christ, and I believe in who He is, what He has done, and what that means to God and Man.
That's all.

So getting back to my thought...

No, I am not at all 'walking on eggshells' before the Lord.
Instead I am learning to walk in the Spirit and to be sensitive to His leading and His work.

Jesus said that when we have been offended by someone that we should go to them first, not to someone else.
This requires courage and honesty.
The way I see it is that it requires Jesus Christ.

Lord, we have no fear when our eyes are set on you. You are our patience when we would rather take offense.
You are our peace when we would rather stage a attack, and you are our courage in the face of the enemy.
You are our wisdom when we are found to be foolish.

So be it, Lord.

Have a wonderful day!