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Expecting Perfection?

4/16/2012

21 Comments

 
I'm so glad you are here! I hope during your visit you get a glimpse of God's heart for we become what we are gazing at. Currently I am writing my way through Judges sharing glimpses of God's heart and character for a weekday devotional. To check out the entire series so far head on over the the Judges Devotional. And if you blog, come on over on Friday's for a blog link up.   

And have you had a chance to check out all the blog posts linked up from Friday? Super encouraging. 
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Have you been hurt by other believers? I imagine so. Sometimes that stings worse than being hurt by non-believers because we have this mostly unspoken expectation other believers are suppose to be perfect and act like Jesus. We have an expectation of safety. Our Mr. Levite thought the same way, he was willing to go out of his way to stay with the people of God. He thought that would be safer, he thought they would be his refuge (though we will see in the horrific end of the chapter that is just not the case).


"When they were near Jebus and the day was almost gone, the servant said to his master, "Come, let's stop at this city of the Jebusites and spend the night." His master replied, "No. We won't go into an alien city, whose people are not Israelites. We will go on to Gibeah." He added, "Come, let's try to reach Gibeah or Ramah and spend the night in one of those places." So they went on, and the sun set as they neared Gibeah in Benjamin. There they stopped to spend the night. They went and sat in the city square, but no one took them into his home for the night." Judges 19:11-15  


They arrived, just coming from a 5 day party with super hospitable Father-in-law, and now, among the people of God, there is none who cares for him. Have you been there? Have you gone into a gathering of believers and felt completely alone? I have. 

Lack of hospitality is a sign of an inward heart problem of self-absorbsion. But yet, have I been there? Yes. 

Jesus doesn't hold the expectation of perfection over believers heads, so why do we? He sees them through His blood, just as He sees us. Eyes of grace.  

Other believers are going to fail us, always. They are still being made more like Jesus everyday. Like a wet rag, He is wringing out the impurities and sometimes it's ugly, yet beautiful. As we are all being refined as gold together, let's not expect perfection from each other. Let's cling to the gospel for them just as much as we do ourselves because the reality is that we all need Jesus everyday. Let's push through the junk together without being frightened by any fear. Let's enter the hard place of communicating, knowing the Lord is with us. Knowing a brother/sister is born of adversity.

So our glimpse of glory is God as the Sanctifier. The One still making us more like Him, and making them more like Him.

Oh Lord, we can be so quick to criticize and condemn. As we see You as the One who sees Your people through Your blood, help us see the same way. Help us, by Your strength be quick to give grace and cling to the gospel for others.
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Mind Sharing?
21 Comments
bluecottonmemory link
4/16/2012 02:21:04 pm

I love this. It is so true! "Like a wet rag, He is wringing out the impurities" - and it is so often through repeat immersion in the water (HS) and repeated wringing those impurities shake lose!

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Laura link
4/17/2012 03:38:39 pm

Yes!

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Dolly link
4/16/2012 02:49:16 pm

Yes, to grace because others fail us and we fail them even when we try not to...grateful for His grace and how He changes us from the inside out...Blessings.

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Laura link
4/17/2012 03:39:50 pm

Oh me too!! Thanks for sharing your thoughts Dolly.

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Jolene @ The Alabaster Jar link
4/16/2012 03:48:00 pm

Love the wringing of the wet rag analogy. Great post, Laura!

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Laura link
4/17/2012 03:40:18 pm

Thanks Jolene. :)

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Meredith link
4/16/2012 08:16:27 pm

This is such an important reminder.
It really resonated with me -- and I am so grateful to have found your lovely blog through SDG. I will be back. :)

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Laura link
4/17/2012 03:42:03 pm

So glad you came by Meredith. I like your blog too!

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Carly Decker link
4/17/2012 12:36:47 am

So good Laura! Expectations definitely kill relationships. I want to walk into my friendships and relationships with Grace-knowing neither of us will be or can be perfect.

Thanks for the encouragement :)

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Laura link
4/17/2012 03:42:40 pm

Thanks Carly. You're just super duper great friend!

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Denise link
4/17/2012 01:34:22 am

So true.

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Laura Rath link
4/17/2012 07:16:17 am

One of the most freeing things I learned years ago is that people (including loved ones closest to us) will always disappoint us, but Jesus NEVER will. I still struggle with expectations, and I still get hurt, but it really helps to remember that none of us are meant to be perfect. Really enjoyed your post, Laura!

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Laura link
4/17/2012 03:43:46 pm

Oh there is so much hope in His perfection and just none in ours. Good thing He gives us His. :)
Thanks Laura!

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Michelle Eichner link
4/17/2012 08:00:10 am

I love the analogy of the wringing washcloth, and the reminder that, just like Peter, if we focus on the earthly we will sink. Great words, sister! Thanks.
Michelle

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Laura link
4/17/2012 03:44:15 pm

Thanks Michelle!

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Danielle link
4/17/2012 09:13:24 am

Its good to remember that everyone else is being healed every day by Jesus too, no matter how much longer they have been Christians than me :) I'm new to your blog, I can't wait to participate in Faith Filled Friday!

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Laura link
4/17/2012 03:45:52 pm

Yay! I'm excited too!!

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laura link
4/17/2012 10:58:50 am

Oh, yes, have I been there. Good words, Laura. The Sanctifier. Amen.

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Laura link
4/17/2012 03:46:25 pm

:)
Thanks!

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Nacole link
4/19/2012 12:15:40 pm

oh, Laura, i needed to read this tonight. *thank you* i poked around your blog a little--read the story of the men in Judges--oh, that we would be rocked out of our complacency. this resonates with my heart. thank you for your kind words at my blog. blessings.

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Joan link
4/20/2012 01:38:12 am

None of us is perfect except for Jesus. We are works in progress...when I have been hurt, remembering that fact helps me with forgiveness of the person. Blessings, Joan

Reply



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  • Home
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    • Know your Purpose
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  • You Are Unshaken Book
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