Ezekiel 40, James 5, Proverbs 17:15-28, Proverbs 18:1-6
James 5:9 (ESV)
“Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you
may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.”
In James 5:9, James wrote to the Jewish Christians about the
importance of getting along with their church community. He warned them not to
grumble or complain about one another, because doing so would create division.
Believers are called to act like Christ and foster a spirit of unity and love.
James also reminded them that Father-God is always listening, as if He is
standing right outside the door. As children of the Lord, we are accountable to
God the Father for our actions and our words. If we judge others and then
complain about them to other people, the Lord will hold us accountable for that
judgment.
When I read this verse this morning, it hit close to home
because I have a friendship at church that drives me a little crazy. My church
friend never seems satisfied with the seats I save for us. After the third
complaint, I finally gave up trying to save seats altogether. At this point, I
don’t even care if we sit together. I found myself grumbling inwardly, and
eventually I complained about it to another church friend. The Holy Spirit
corrected me for my complaining, and later the Lord allowed me to experience
the same frustration. Someone saved seats for me during a service, but they
never saved one in the middle—where I prefer to sit—and always put me on the
side. In that moment, I realized I was feeling exactly what my friend must have
felt.
The guidance I received from the Holy Spirit was not to
judge my friends, but to treat them the way Christ would treat them. Christ
would have accepted my two friends, forgiven their complaining, and moved on.
He certainly wouldn’t have grumbled about them to others the way I did. So that
is what I am trying to practice. I honor our friendships because we belong to
the same church community, and I bring my resentment and irritation to the Lord
instead of letting it fester. I no longer complain about their behavior to
others, and—for my own peace—I have taken a short break from the friendships
until my heart can return to a more loving posture. Trying to be more like
Christ has brought peace back into my heart and helped preserve the friendships
I value in my church community.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel prompted to
place your faith in Jesus Christ, who offers peace that restores and heals—this
could be your moment. Open your heart to Him, speak to Him through the
following prayer, and express your trust in Him. Share your desire to walk with
Him and welcome His presence into your life. God is faithful and ready to meet
you wherever you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for
all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart
that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is
my Lord and Savior. Right now, I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of
salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made
new in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of
Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit-filled, full-Gospel,
Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s
love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
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