The multiple gifts of God

You know, people have a HUGE tendency to think way more of themselves than they ought to. Some people can hate themselves, yet still think a lot of themselves. They may hate the way they look or something of the like, but at least their attitude is better than "his/her" attitude! Maybe that is why God told us to "love your neighbor as yourself." If we all did that all the time like we are supposed to, there wouldn't be the arguments and such like we have to often. We ALL have problems, yet we constantly blame them on everyone else. We will also point out every little "sinful" detail in other people's lives, but if they do the same to us it's judging, and we all know that's wrong! I think a lot of us, most of us, get wrapped up in the fact that we're Christians, and that Christ died for us, therefore we're really something. We forget the pureness and perfection of Christ, because we don't compare ourselves to HIM, but rather to other people. We look pretty good next to those rotten sinners out there, don't we? If we would compare ourselves, even if it was just one thing in our life, to Christ, we would be so humbled that we'd be on our knees begging God to forgive us. There is a saying that I think should be memorized and posted all over the place. "If your heart were Christal clear, what would people see?" There's so much corruption in the heart of man, and I think we neglect our hearts and minds thinking since nobody knows about it it's ok to leave it unclean. I mean, God is always right beside us, and he can hear every thought, and knows our hearts every desire...would you be embarrassed at what He would see/hear? What is your parents, friends, or spouse could so the same...would that scare you? We are to live what we believe...if the things in our thoughts and hearts aren't what we believe, they should be taken out and never brought back....unless you'd be willing to live what's in them. We are to live our lives as if we are completely see through. If we make sure our hearts are set on Christ, and our minds are always thinking of Him, and ways to please him, do you know just how much of a difference that would make in other people's lives? Quite a big one....but nobody is willing to do that.

Ever heard the saying, "This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you?" It's actually a pretty good way to sum up everything God feels. When He sent the flood to the earth, he saved 8 people, because they found grace in the eyes of the Lord, but the rest were terrible people...I mean, you can't imagine what all they did. However, they chose that way, and is SO grieved God to wipe them out (I know, that's sort of a harsh way to put it). It will hurt God again when He comes back, and the earth is destroyed with all the ones who haven't come to Him. Why does He feel that way? Because He was loving enough to send His son to die, that was the ONLY way He could make a way for us....yet most of the earth rejects that great gift. God wants ALL to come to Him, to take the way out He made, to come live with Him one day with everything He has made for us...people just don't care. The God that made them, gave them life and blessings abundantly...they don't give a care about any of it. We all know just HOW corrupt man is; I don't think we truly comprehend how humbling it was for God to come down and become one of us. He was mocked, ridiculed, beaten...the anguish was unbearable yet He bore though it for us. We think, "well, God thought a bunch of people would take that gift...He sort of wasted His time." Nope. God KNEW many would reject what He gave up, but to Him, it was worth the few that would come. I think many of us take most everything God has done for us and gives us for granted. He gave His son, we took that gift, and now we're Christians. We can go live our life as we please as long as we live "better" than everyone else. That's not what we're supposed to be doing, and we all know it.