Build Others Up.

JULY 7

 BUILD OTHERS UP 

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. —ROMANS 2:1 

Our enemy, the devil, wants us to be faultfinders, focusing on the shortcomings of others while being blind to our own faults. If we see nothing wrong with ourselves and a great deal wrong with others, then the devil has won because we are opening doors for him to work in our lives through our lack of love. 

Jesus said, “Take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:5). 

We can and should pray for others, but we cannot change them. Only God can change people. We can, however, work with the Holy Spirit to make positive changes in our lives if we are not overly focused on what we think is wrong with everyone else. Faultfinding is the fruit of pride. 

The devil wants us to be proud and haughty, thinking more highly of ourselves than we do of others. We may often feel superior to other people, and that always causes us to look down on them and treat them in a belittling manner. We should build others up and help them feel good about themselves. If we choose to do so, we can find a compliment for each person with whom we come in contact. Then we will be joyful, and we will reap a harvest of good things in our own lives. 

“Father, I want to please You in all my ways. Help me to think good thoughts about others and never judge them critically. Teach me how to pray for them and love them as You do. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”