Possibly the most awful example in the whole of human history of how good people can go off track can be found in the Pharisees of the scriptures. They were ardent followers of the letter of the Mosaic law; they were meticulous students of the Torah; they were morally upright in the sight of man and yet they went terribly wrong…. So can we.
Spiritual pride is one of satan’s most effective traps into which only those that are aiming high are prone to fall prey too. When one reaches a place of high moral character they often forget that such heights are only possible for those who live humbly on their knees. They often begin to think that they are the author of their virtues. A grave warning is in order for us all. Let us remember that unless the Holy Ghost controls our lives, we too are in jeopardy of falling into this trap as well.
May our internal alarm sound loudly when whenever the winsome life of the Lord Jesus is substituted by strict and absolute obedience to a moral code. Those whose word was all that was needed to seal a deal, those who were honest in all their dealings and those whose lives were above reproach all to often become a people lacking tenderness, kindness and gentleness which characterize the followers of Christ. We stand for righteousness, but when an unwed mother confesses, may we not reject her….but rather may we extend loving arms to her and guide her back to a merciful and forgiving heavenly Father. When a man ignores our good counsel and ends up becoming enslaved by that which we warned him about, do we gloat with an ‘I told you so’ attitude or do we lovingly seek to keep open the channels of communication so as to restore. The Pharisees exchanged tenderness and compassion for absolute moral correctness. Having the indwelling savior we will be more responsible than they because reconciliation and redemption are of the very nature of God.
He who is forgiven much loves much.
