Sight of Sin

I was reading through a book by Jerry Bridges, and he wrote at one point that we should be stern toward ourselves and tender toward others.

I think the only way to really do that is to have an undiminished sense of your own depravity.

Paul practiced this. He knew his own failings.

In remembering them he consequently did two things:

1) He developed compassion for others, and showed patience and love in his ministry.

In every book written by Paul you can see his love for the "brothers beloved by God". He loves them and therefore wants them to know and practice the truth of God. He writes with patience, understanding their limits because he knows his own.

We should be the same in our dealings. If we understand our own failure and lack, we will have more compassion for those among us who struggle. We will extend a hand, we will pray, and we will seek to show them the truth.

2) He exalted and glorified God more and more for His grace and mercy.

You can see both Paul's sense of his own sinfulness as well as his understanding of the glory of God in this passage:

"I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." ~ 1 Timothy 1:12-17

He knows what he was formerly; he calls himself the foremost among sinners; so he thanks Christ Jesus, he praises the grace of the Lord...and gives God honour and glory as he praises His attributes.

As we think of what we are, we will undoubtedly praise God for His grace and mercy and perfect patience, just as Paul has done. Beyond that, in our every day dealings with other people there will be no room for pride or judgment.

No one is a sinner like I am. And no one is as magnificent and gracious as God is.

If we are stern toward ourselves, we will be tender toward others.

The more you understand your own sinfulness, your own darkness, and your own tendency to turn toward what is evil, the more sympathy you will have for those who struggle with sin. The more compassion you will feel for those trapped in the snares of the devil. The more you will overflow with God's grace and love and pour it out on others.