Line Up

“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt?"

Matthew 7:1-3 

I have come to a decision...I'm going to stop reading political posts, articles, arguments, because they make me cynical and I have found myself judging others because they present themselves as the answer to all our issues.  

As a matter of fact, after I came to my decision, I found notes from a sermon I heard many years ago that I truly believe God put right where I could find it just at the moment I needed to be reminded of it.  You see, growing up the Biblical characters were portrayed as so gleaming holy that the Sun reflected their purity.  As I got older, and to be honest a bit more jaded, I gave up trying because I could never measure up.  Until I heard a sermon at age 30 that changed my way of thinking.  

Consider this:

Jacob lied to Abraham so he could steal the birthright from Esau.

Peter lied about knowing Jesus even to the point of using profanity to emphasize the point.

David had an adulterous affair and had one of his best friends killed.

Noah got drunk when God let them out of the ark.  Honestly, if I was cooped up with that crew for 40 days and 40 nights...

Jonah ran away from God so he wouldn't have to do what God told him.  Didn't work out so well.

Paul was a murderer, a criminal, was arrested several times, tortured people and had a temper.

Miriam was a gossip

Martha was a worrier

Thomas doubted and refused to believe without Jesus coming to prove His resurrection. 

Sara was impatient and even went to far as to laugh at idea that God could fulfill His promise.

Elijah dealt with depression, self doubt, fear.

Abraham was old.

Lazarus was dead.

And God, in His wisdom, used each of these and more to fulfill His purposes.  So, who am I do think badly of anyone?  God uses the most unlikely people to reach others.  If God can do that with THIS bunch, WE are in good company.