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Key Bible Verse: Each of us will have to give a personal account to God. So don't condemn each other anymore (Romans 14:12-13) Bonus Reading: Romans 14: 1-13

When I first went to work for the correspondence department of a high-profile ministry whose motives were frequently questioned in the media, I assumed I'd spend most of my time responding to secular critics. Instead, I found that most of my energies would be spent defending ourselves to fellow Christians.

I've been amazed—both within this ministry and in church—to witness the "prove-something-to-me" posturing that frequently occurs before one Christian will extend the benefit of the doubt to another. Why don't we want to believe the best about other brothers and sisters in Christ? We typically gauge them not by where they genuinely stand before God, but by comparing them to ourselves. In Romans 14: 1-13 Paul explains that that's the wrong standard. Christians are called to accept one another, even if we think the other person's faith is weak. We're called to build up our fellow believers.

Think of how often Jesus encountered a person whose actions, motives, or beliefs He could have questioned. How many times did He do that? Shouldn't we do the same?

—Jeffrey Leever in Colorado

My Response: I could affirm a believer I've avoided by …

Thought to Apply: Never believe anything bad about anybody unless you positively know it to be true; never tell even that unless you feel it is absolutely necessary—and that God is listening while you tell it.—HENRY VAN DYKE

Copyright © 2005 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine. Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

Lord, you received me when I was down and out. Help me to accept others in the same spirit.

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