Smug Alert
Theme of the Week: Who's Number One?
Neil Anderson and Charles Mylander
Wednesday, March 3, 2004
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Key Bible Verse: "All right, stone her. But let those who have never sinned throw the first stones!" (John 8:7). Bonus Reading:John 8:1–11
Mark's wife of 10 years was in an ongoing affair with her boss at work. Both Mark and his wife were Christians, and together they had four small children. They had married young and he had assumed a position of control and dominance in the relationship, giving her little room to experience herself as an individual.
When the affair was disclosed, he became puffed up with his own righteousness and sexual purity. He threw Scripture verses at her, demanding she repent, grovel, and submit to counseling to get straightened out. He was unwilling to look at his own controlling behavior that stymied intimacy. He refused to submit to church intervention. He felt he was justified in throwing the first and subsequent stones, rather than examining his own heart for sin. He proceeded with divorce on "biblical grounds."
Such sanctimonious pride keeps believers from being reconciled. Mark's wife committed a grievous sin against her husband and children. But as long as Mark insisted on self-righteous payback instead of self-conscious forgiveness, the divorce would bring little comfort.
—Neil Anderson and Charles Mylander in Blessed are the Peacemakers
My Response: What sin in my life may be covered up by judgment for others?
Thought to Apply: There is nothing that will kill a man so soon as having nobody to find fault with but himself.
—George Eliot (British novelist)
Adapted from Blessed are the Peacemakers (Regal, 2002) by permission.
Copyright © 2004 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.
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Lord, help me to remember your ultimate example of humility. May this example allow me to put others' considerations ahead of my own.
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