I once talked through past problems with a family member, and we were surprised that both of us remembered things that put us in a good light and forgot the things that we’d done wrong.
This is a human problem:
“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9
Some adult children forget their faults but regularly highlight their parents’ failures.
Some friends overlook their rudeness but are highly sensitive to the inconsideration of others.
Some spouses “know” their mate is the main problem in their marriage.
Who can understand our deceitful hearts?
God can (Jeremiah 17:10).
And He gives us this advice:
1. Take the log out (Matthew 7:1-5).
If we don’t deal biblically with our sins, we'll have a deceptive view of other people's sins.
2. Forgive (Matthew 6:15).
Bitterness distorts our view of relationship problems (Hebrews 12:15).
3. Return good for evil (Romans 12:21).
This is a powerful tool against self-deception.(1)
With God's help we can see things as they really are.
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(1) We often deceive ourselves by blaming others for problems we have caused. For example, someone who seems inconsiderate may actually be responding to our inconsiderate behavior. When we return good for evil, we act on the principle that love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). Even if the other person remains unchanged, we can feel confident that we have dealt with them biblically.
Bible Love Notes
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