Living Rent Free by Toni Babcock
"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another anymore: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way," (Romans 14:12-13 KJV).
Perhaps you've heard the expression "I'm living in my opponent's head rent free". I don't know about you - but if I suspect I might be living in someone else's head rent free, I pray the landlord kicks me out as soon as possible. Jesus Christ is the only Head I want to live in. I'll be doing just great if I can cease from judging other people and remain firmly grounded in Him. If not, I suspect something unholy is going on. I'm talking about the little "digs" I might direct at another to provoke an unholy response, or the judgments I might make that allow me to feel superior to them, or the weaseling across a spiritual border the Lord never intended me to weasel over, in order that I might "fix" somebody else's spiritual problem, while ignoring my own. I may even try to convince myself I am "doing the Spirit's work", when its really me trying to promote my own agenda, while protecting myself from being convicted of some particular sin. Let's face it: we shifty mortals are born of a sneaky lot. We need the Holy Spirit to deal with our own sin first and foremost. Our only protection from ourselves is fervent prayer, confession to God, and daily baths in His cleansing Word. This will greatly reduce any illegitimate squatting in the head of another. If we follow God's directives in the matter, the church will be much better off.
Toni is a Christian writer from Minnesota. Find her book The Stone Writer and additional articles HERE. |
