Having A Heart That Is Attuned To Christ

"Oh, I can't even believe how they handled that situation," we've all pridefully cooed.

"If I were in their shoes, I would never do something like that," we've all sneered.

"They did what?!" we've gasped, while partaking in the sin of gossip.

Until it is you on the receiving end of judgment.

I've been caught up in the sin of pridefully looking down upon the sin of others, whether it be a choice they made or a way they were conducting their life. We've all assumed we would handle a temptation or situation better than our neighbor, until we are toe-to-toe with the temptation and situation ourselves. That spiritual lesson is never fun to learn, but it is so necessary. So what does having a heart that is attuned to Christ mean?

We live in a society obsessed with pointing fingers at others, yet never looking in our own reflection. If you've read through the Gospels, you'll be familiar with a group of people called the Pharisees, who looked perfect on the outside, but were wicked on the inside. Jesus conversed with them many times about their obsession with the rules found in the law, pointing fingers at others and their sins, yet not possessing a heart of faith (I.E., a works-based salvation).

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." Matthew 23:27-28 ESV

As I have been reading more about the Pharisees, I can't even look at them and point a finger because I, too, spent a large majority of my early twenties obsessed with man-made rules. Instead of focusing on my heart posture towards Christ, I became obsessed with the external, all while judging others at the same time. When we fall into this snare, what we are actually saying with our behavior is that we believe we must work for our salvation. We get accustomed to checking off our spiritual rules list, yet our heart posture is the furthest from Christ. The only reason we are saved is because of faith in Christ Jesus and what HE did for us, not because we did anything to merit such grace.

However, lest we fall into the ditch of "using our liberty to sin", where should we strive to land on this matter?

"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another." Galatians 5:13-15 ESV

"What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." Romans 6:1-4 ESV

As Christian's, we should have a heart that desires to live in the Spirit, not the flesh. Often during school, I remind my children that our freedom in Christ is not to be used with a "well, I am saved, so I can go out and live any kind of way" attitude, but rather a "I want to live for Christ every day and flee sin" attitude. There should be fruit as we grow in our spiritual walk and a heart posture that is focused on Christ. The truth is, sin is real, and it will destroy you. We all have one thing in common: our fight against our flesh and sin. There is no reason to look down upon another's sin, because we, too, can and will falter in our walk with Christ. So love your neighbor, crucify your flesh daily, and do all to the glory of God.