In the way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Matthew 7:2)
Do we get upset when others judge us? How about when we judge others? Is there quick judgment in our mind when someone cuts us off in line or makes a remark about something? Perhaps there is more than a quick judgment in our mind. Perhaps we dwell on the incident in our mind, or even spend time talking about the incident to others. How about when we cut someone off or make a remark. In the way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. This is God's simple law of cause and effect.
In the face of conflict, how do we respond? In the face of trouble, how do we respond? Do we ever take a look at our own responses to life and ask the question why are we responding the way we do? Are we responding in active faith? What is the motive for our response if we are not responding in faith?
We all have gifts and talents. Perhaps we have developed them into wonderful blessings for our lives and the lives of others. But have we taken the time to develop active faith filled responses in times of trouble and conflict?
Active faith and the law of cause and effect are like an acorn. The acorn carries all the properties of the mighty oak tree. We can't see the oak tree in the acorn, but it is there. So we go ahead and plant the acorn knowing that with care the oak tree will grow from it. Active faith is like the blossom of a rose. The blossom carries all the properties of the fully opened bloom. Even though we can't see the fully opened rose in a bloom, we know the rose is there. Likewise, we can be full of fear, anger or bitterness - poisonous like the hemlock seed which has all the properties of the poisonous hemlock plant. The poisonous hemlock plant grows and blossoms the same as the acorn and the rose. Do we react with active faith?
Give and it will be given to you...for by your standard of measure it will be measured to you. (Luke 6:38) Do we give active faith in all situations or do we react with anger, bitterness, judgment, or fear? When others react badly to us, how do we react? Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you...bless them which use you. (Luke 6:27-36) More than doing the right thing, this is the law of sowing and reaping - the law of cause and effect.
God's law of nature brings forth the tree from the seed. The fruit of the seed shows very clearly what seed has been planted in the soil. The fruit of life bears forth visible evidence of what seeds have been planted in thought, word and deed.
The good news is that we can live by grace and not by law through Jesus Christ. We can renew our mind, body and spirit by giving them up to God and allowing the body, mind and spirit of Christ to dwell in us. We need to decrease and he must increase. (John 3:30) We must do as John the Baptist did, allow Christ to increase. Christ must increase in us and our human ego must decrease.
When we realize our error, we may not be able to immediately control our thoughts, words and reactions or use active faith. Our human will may be weak. We all have bad human habits. But we can let go of our will and take the yoke of Christ upon us, his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Once we let go of our ego and let Christ take over our body, mind and spirit the Father within will begin taking over our thoughts, words and reactions. The Father within will do the work. (John 14:10) Jesus said that we will do the things that he did and even greater things in his name. (John 5:30) With the body, mind and spirit of Christ we are one with the Father. We can claim the same things Jesus did.
Do you put a lamp under a bowl? Whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you and more. (Mark 4:21-25) Deliberately practice active faith and love. Forgive quickly and release people and events and let them go to the good God has waiting for them. I will arise and go to my Father.
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