Practicing Humility

This week’s verse: “Don’t criticize one another, brothers. He who criticizes a brother or judges his brother criticizes the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?” James 4:11-12 (HCSB)

Take a moment and think about a person you can’t stand being around. What qualities make them unbearable? Their voice? Actions? Beliefs? Or is it something in their personality that just rubs you the wrong way? Whatever the reason, it makes them a little harder for you to tolerate their presence.

I’m human just like you, and there are people in my life that I have trouble being around, too. We should also keep in mind that we’re probably that person for other people, and we should be compassionate toward those people who annoy us just like everyone else.

We’re not perfect. God’s not asking us to be. Our goal as Christians is to live like Christ in every aspect of our lives, including in how we interact with people. As the verse this week says, we shouldn’t judge the people around us because we’re just as at fault and imperfect. We need to be there for everyone, especially for those people who annoy us. We don’t know what’s going on in their personal lives, and we should be mindful of that in those moments of irritation.

This week, I encourage you to pray for that person you thought of at the beginning of this devotion. You never know. They may need that encouragement this week.
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Prayer: Father, I thank you for my friends, and I thank you for the people I struggle with loving. Be with me this week, and be with them. Amen.