Where is Christ in you?

If God desires us to build up another,
not prejudge or pre-sentence based on personal reasoning, not say this is how you should be 

If -- since God's desire for us is to build up another, encourage in whatever they are facing

What does it say about us when we turn our back on one who is hurting?  When we say "snap out of it" or "you should be ... this, that and the other, but not what you are this moment."

We say we are there for another. We say we will go. And we may go to the one in need. 

But once we get there, what then?  Do we listen?  Are we gentle?  Are we patient?  Are we humble?  Are we loving?  Are we tolerant? 

Or do we simply remind them of their shortcomings? 

Being reminded of our failures is not God's plan. God knows our every success and failure and I daresay so do we. But He isn't the one who stands at the gate and points them out at every opportunity. 

That is Satan's plan of attack, and uses others -- unbelievers and, yes, believers in Christ too, to stomp on and put down another.

Is it any wonder we succumb to levels so low we question our sanity and our reasons for living? 

In Ephesians 4, Paul tells us to walk worthy, to live our lives according to God's standard, not our own. 

"...live a live that measures up to the standard God set when He called you. Be always humble, gentle and patient. Show your love by being tolerant with one another. Do your best to preserve the unity which the Spirit gives by means of the peace that binds you together. There is one body and one Spirit, just as there is one hope to which God has called you. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism; There is one God and Father of all people, who is Lord of all, works through all, and is in all." (Ephesians 4:1-6, Good News Translation)

God sets the standard and He shows us how to abide by it, but we are human and we often miss the point He makes, often miss His illustrations, and often respond to another based on our inaccurate thinking.

God tells us to fine tune our hearing so it is only His voice we hear. We are to tune out all others. 

The Lord is our Shepherd. We know His voice. We are to follow Him and be obedient to His leadership. Follow Him. 

If we would all follow the Lord and His teachings, perhaps it would be possible to show love to our fellowman and not disdain ... perhaps it would be possible to be patient and tolerant and not hold an "holier than thou" attitude over another..

But unfortunately, we all do not follow the Lord. 

Some still seek
Some have found
Some are sinking in the midst
Some care
Some do not

God alone cares for every one.

"casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)

His love, His unconditional love is for us all. 

We reach

He grasps

Why when we reach out to a fellow human,
do you pull away, recoil? 

Where is Christ in you?