Reflective Temptation

I have noticed that our temptation is often if not always to indulge in the spirit of others we profess to condemn. When we speak against immorality we are secretly jealous and desire it ourself. When we become angry about violence we react with growing hatred that secretly craves to be violent against the violators. When we see hypocrites and legalists we engage in hidden pride and desire to prescribe a solution for them. We easily slip into criticism which is based in self-justifying pride which is hypocrisy.

Moses ran into this problem early on in his career. He attempted to utilize the methods and spirit of the world to accomplish the work of God when he killed the Egyptian. This method didn't work for him and it never works for us.

I cannot bring life to the local church by feeling angry, self-righteous and superior. I only give the lie to what I claim to believe about healing ministries. I am still in bondage to the deeply rooted generational sin of criticism and spiritual pride. It is like reservoirs of poison that infect everything I try to say or do and discolors the witness I give about God's character and power. Who will deliver me from the body of death?