Deeper Life #59

Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

—Romans 2:1

TO ACCUSE “THE BRETHREN” IS devilish in nature and practice. Yet many professing Christians do this. They are carnal! Carnality, in blunt American talk, is bossism. When self-appointed know-it-alls speak of things pertaining to holiness, they manifest carnal behavior.

Carnal behavior will not suffer long with others, is not kind to people, envies, always is rash in judgment and attitudes, seeks its own selfish ways, rejoices in iniquity when it is discovered, and will not rejoice in the truth.

Moral lepers are the first to detect moral leprosy in others; so carnal people see in others what is often within themselves. Carnality is the genius of discovering defects and sins in others, so that one can excuse sins and defects in oneself.

Carnality always ignores God’s claim to us as creatures of His. It emphasizes the idea that “I have the truth of God and whoever does not agree with me shall be damned.” But our Lord said to the carnal Pharisees in His day that they would not escape the damnation of hell (see Matthew 23:13–23).

Prayer Thought: Father, help me to be peaceable and not a source of trouble in the family of God.

SUGGESTED READING: Matthew 23:1–12