Psalm 71:13 English Standard Version (ESV) May my accusers be put to shame and consumed; with scorn and disgrace may they be covered who seek my hurt.

Yesterday I ended with what some might rightly call an accusation. “What do we place before God?” Let it be known that I place myself among the “we”. I have placed “things” before God. I am not ashamed to confess the truth of it. None of us are perfect.

So what is the difference between asking a question for which life has demonstrated a human frailty and an accusation? Accusations do not come in the form of a question. They are stated a fact whether it be true or not.

Luke 15:2 English Standard Version (ESV) And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

At the core of this accusation is the charge of being different. The Pharisees and scribes would never do that so if Jesus does that it shines a spotlight on their own behavior. It puts their behavior to question.

My question from yesterday is one of introspection. It is not for me to say what is in any heart, only to ask if we have ever looked at our own behavior in comparison to what Jesus did during His ministry.

No one expect us to be perfect in performance. What is expected is growth, a maturing, and an awareness of how our attitudes and behaviors reflect upon our relationship with our Lord and fellow believers.

If one were to be convicted by the Holy Spirit by a word written and spoken, the author is God and should be accepted with humility. Should be does not always take the form of instant change. Often times we need to examine our rationale for those conditions. There may be a deeper underlying problem that is only seen thru those feelings of being attacked.

Love endures all things is not instinctual.

Matthew 10:38 English Standard Version (ESV) And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

What does it take to pick up your own cross? It is a symbol of death. If we have died with Christ as Paul cries out to us in Romans 6:8 and now live with Him what is the purpose of my cross?

Sacrifice, a willingness to sacrifice self just as Christ was willing to sacrifice Himself for us.

Paul said he counted all things as lost to win Christ. I cannot pick up my cross and carry with it the things of this world. I cannot even take attitudes and emotions with me to my cross. I have to lay all those things at the foot of my cross and not pick them up again. A thing lost to me is a thing that must not be longed for while a bear my cross. If I do, it is not lost to me.

If we are not willing to choose Christ over all things we have not won Christ. Only Christ has the right to say to us, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” If you think those are laws, you really don’t understand Christ. His command is to love God with all your heart mind, soul and strength. If we can do that He will handle the rest.

1 Corinthians 13:13 English Standard Version (ESV) So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

The Father gave us faith, the Holy Spirit gives us hope and Christ is love.

Love gets it done. We can only sacrifice things we love less than God.

What do we place before God?