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Mornings With Jesus
Mornings With Jesus
Smoothing the Rough Edges | Joshua Scott Zeitz
Do you ever find yourself critiquing others' spiritual journeys while comfortably sitting on the sidelines? In this heartfelt devotional, we explore how surprisingly easy it is to become spiritual critics rather than compassionate guides—much like shouting advice at cooking show contestants from our couches when we couldn't handle the pressure ourselves.
Drawing from personal experience, I share my early struggles with a critical spirit that hindered rather than helped my witness for Christ. The turning point came through David's humble prayer in Psalm 51, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right and steadfast spirit within me." This scripture reminds us that transformation begins within before it can overflow to others. Jesus never commanded us to tell people how bad they are—He called us to share good news.
The solution isn't complicated but requires intentionality: spending consistent time in God's presence. Through worship, scripture, and prayer, God smooths our rough edges like a master craftsman. The Bible becomes His refining tool, revealing areas where we need growth while providing the nourishment necessary for transformation. When we allow God to work on our critical spirits, our approach to evangelism naturally shifts from condemnation to invitation, from pointing out darkness to reflecting light.
Whether you're feeling spiritually polished or a bit rough around the edges today, take encouragement from this truth: what a difference it makes when, rather than telling people how bad they are, we start showing them how good our God is. Spend some extra time in His presence today, invite His refining touch, and watch how your witness for Him transforms. After all, what you make happen for others, God will make happen for you.
Hello and welcome to Mornings with Jesus, your daily dose of encouragement. I am your host, joshua Scott Seitz. Today's encouragement comes from Psalms 51, verses 10, 12, and 13. Create in me a clean heart, o God, and renew a right and steadfast spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and sustain me with the willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners shall be converted and returned unto you.
Speaker 0:One of our favorite family pastimes is watching food competitions on television. After watching several of these types of shows, there's something strangely wonderful that I have noticed. It's easy to sit on my side of things and critique the people doing all the work. Hey, do this or that, why are you doing that? We scream at the TV in a matter-of-fact way, as if they can hear us or, better yet, as if we could really do better if we were placed in their position. It's easy to do this very thing in our Christian walk as well. If we aren't mindful, it can become quite easy to begin pointing the finger at everyone around us, telling them what to do, what to believe and how to believe, critiquing them on their faith or lack thereof.
Speaker 0:For me personally, this is something I struggled with early on in my walk with the Lord. Simply put, I was rough around the edges. This caused me to have a very critical spirit, which meant that, rather than being able to share the gospel with people, I was more focused on their lack of spirituality or what I thought. Listen, jesus didn't say go into all the world and tell people how bad they are. Go and tell them how lacking in their faith they are. He said share the gospel. The best way I found to do this is by spending time with the Lord. Only then can I take the time to reflect on my own walk with him, allowing him to mold me and make me, and then I'm able to be a viable witness for Him and the kingdom. The more time I spend with Jesus, the more like Him I become. The more time I spend in His presence, the more like Him I speak and act.
Speaker 0:We all have rough edges that need to be smoothed over. Be encouraged today. The Bible is the best refining and smoothing tool there is. Allow it to smooth the things over in your life and watch how much easier it becomes to share the good news with others. Are you feeling a bit rough around the edges today? Don't be discouraged. Spend a little extra time in his presence, praise him, put some worship music on, allow the Bible to pour over you and pray like David did, creating me a clean heart. What a difference it makes when, rather than telling people how bad they are, we start showing them how good our God is. Smooth things over today in your own walk and get out there and share the good news. Remember what you make happen for others, god will make happen for you.
