Our Daily Bread

I'm sure at some point in your life, you have seen those little white booklets called, "Our Daily Bread." They're a free, pocket-sized publication with a scripture and anecdote for every day. We get them at church, and while I cannot say I always read them in the past, I have recently been trying to take two minutes of my day to read the encouraging notes before I begin my work day. It's an effort to get on the right track before I even leave the house.

Monday's word was about the Pharisees, who really just went through the pomp and circumstance of religious practices. Jesus saw that their hearts weren't clean. Showing love for others was an insincere display for them.

What struck me about the passage was the last paragraph the author wrote: "The proof of spiritual maturity is not how 'pure' you are but your awareness of your impurity. That very awareness opens the door to God's grace."

It seems to me that ppl who accuse Christians of thinking that we are perfect really have it all wrong. By being mature enough to recognize our own impurities, it enables us to include ourselves in that group when we say 'nobody's perfect.' We ask for our flaws to be apparent to us so that we can work toward becoming a perfect being like Christ. In the meantime, because we know we have impurities just like everyone else, it should motivate us to operate from a place of compassion and extend greater love to those around us (than those who do not profess to have the love of Christ.) u get me??? It doesn't always happen that way, we know, but it's something you have to work on daily.