“Check the obvious first” can be a good principle for spiritual troubleshooting as well. Colossians 3:12-17 lists a dozen spiritual qualities that indicate a healthy soul. Prominent among them are compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, love, and thankfulness.
Before criticizing our church or other Christian groups, we might ask the Lord to reveal our own shortcomings. Prior to ripping out the wires of relationships, we could check to see if patience and forgiveness are connected in our own heart.
It’s good to look inside our heart—to check the obvious first—even when it feels as if all our problems are caused by others. — David McCasland
I’ll check within my own heart first,
The obvious to see,
That faults I find in others
Are really faults in me. — D. DeHaan
Christlike love is patient with the faults of others.
From Our Daily Bread Devotional on YouVersion
Stay Encouraged and Be Blessed!
