Mind Your Own Sin & a Giveaway :-)

Tuesday Update: Hey all! Wanted to be sure to direct you over to our Proverbs 31 President’s blog. Lysa TerKeurst has redesigned her blog and is launching it by having a week of fun giveaways. So….I have three giveaways this week, she has even more.  All of this means more chances for you to win! So, once you are done entering on my site, then hop over to her site by clicking here. Summer fun!

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I’m thrilled you’ve joined us, whether you’ve made your way here via today’s Proverbs 31 Encouragement for Today devotion or as a regular cyber sister. Today, we’ve got some thinkin’, searchin’ and chattin’ to do. However, if you haven’t read the devotion yet, you’ll need to so you can catch up with the rest of us. To do so, click here.

And please stop by often this week. We are having three, yes three, different giveaways, one especially for Father’s Day.

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I love the story of Laurel and her Bible. Not only  did her action that day enable her cancer to be caught early enough for treatment, but it also serves as an example to the rest of us of how we should conduct or spiritual and relational lives.

So often when we are embedded in a relationship challenge, (and let’s just be up front and honest gals, we ALL have them), we can only see our side of the story. We are quick to size up the situation, defending our position and justifying our actions.

And we spend oodles of time fretting over the actions of others; letting our hearts idle in “its not fair” mode and our emotions tumultuously churn as over and over again we replay the situation on our minds.

He did this.

She said that.

What they decided wasn’t fair or godly.

I am right. They are wrong.

You got it, God?

Has that ever been the case with you?

It has with me. Waaaaaay too many times.

As mentioned in the devotion, during those times I have tried to retrain my mind to meander down a different path. I’ve purposed to take the advice I often give to my own kids. It isn’t something handed down to me by my parents. I never read it in a book or heard it in a sermon. It is just a phrase I blurted out in the heat of frustration when dealing with yet another sibling squable in our home a few years back…..

“Mind your own sin”

Simple phrase.

Powerful results.

When will we realize that we cannot control others’ behavior? That we can’t change the outcome of a situation? That the only thing we can control is our tongue (and only with God’s assistance)? And the only things we can ever change are our attitudes, actions and reactions?

Romans 12: 17-19 says:

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”says the Lord.”

If it is possible…..

as far as it depends on you…….

live at peace with everyone.

It isn’t always possible, but we can make sure  that when we are stuck in a trying relationship, we weigh our motives; we check our actions; we temper our reactions; and we accept the outcome.

We can behave in a manner that makes Jesus proud.

If, we mind our own sin.

Committing verses, such as the ones mentioned above, to our memory can be much like Laurel’s Bible, pressed to our hearts. It will help us to feel for any festering lumps of sin and stop the spread of its awful disease.

I want to give a Bible to one of you this week to help you do just that.

It is an English Standard Version personal size reference Bible in Tru Tone Mahogany. (Not quite sure what that all means, but it is a pretty burgundy soft cover Bible) It isn’t over-sized. It is in single column format (which I love!). It retails for $29.99. (Don’t worry. I didn’t spend our grocery money on it. I got it on a fabulous sale!) Click here for the description.

To be entered in the random drawing, just leave a comment on today’s topic. Or share with us a Bible verse that helps you focus on right behavior or helps you in relationship challenges. Or, if time is tight, simply state “I’m in!”

You have until midnight Tuesday, Pacific Time. The winner will be announced Wednesday morning.

Have a wonderful, Bible-pressing, week!

174 Comments

  1. Just when it feels like I am all alone, struggling with hurt within a friendship that has left me empty and devastated, this devotion was sent to me…to speak to my heart. I need to mind to the feelings and attitudes that are not pleasing to God instead of longing to make her understand how much I am hurting. God will take care of the rest.

  2. I was just in Romans 12 the other night! Such an awesome chapter. I highlighted the verses you have in your post.
    1 Peter 1:22 is one of my new favorites: 22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.

  3. Being “stuck in a trying relationship” certainly describes my life. I know I have to let God do His work in me because this is the one person whom I do not have the desire to show grace and forgiveness. And since I have been given both by my Savior, I should be more willing. I really do try, but the anger comes back. You’ve given me a lot to think about. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

  4. I to found todays message inspiring, as I am entering into a new friendship. The expression to “mind your sin” is new to me, but I find it useful in dealing with my new friend. As I seek to do the will of GOD and be pleasing in his sight. Proverbs 3:5-6, comes to mind. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding, In all your ways acknowlege Him, And HE shall direct your paths.” So as I go forward with this relationship, I ask GOD to guide and Let me not whine or whimper over thing I have no control over. To let His will not mine be done.
    GOD bless you and all who comes to this site, today.

  5. My plan for your future has always been filled with hope!!!
    I love that version of my favorite verse Jeremiah 29:11!!!
    Thanks for such a wonderful give-a-way. Hope to win!
    Blessings to you….Deb

  6. I have been working with a friend lately in pursuing Bible memorization. A timely one we’ve been working on is Hebrews 12:15-
    “See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

    I would love this Bible! :)
    Blessings,
    Michele

  7. Wow, the whole 12th Chapter of Romans is so applicable to today’s devo! Verse 9 really sums it up – “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. HOLD TIGHTLY TO WHAT IS GOOD (NLT)” (emphasis in caps is mine – makes me think of Lauren’s story). If we really truly loved others, then we would be patient, kind, not jealous or boastful, proud or rude. We wouldn’t keep any record of wrongs and we would rejoice in the truth. We wouldn’t give up on others, never lose our faith. Instead we would be hopeful and our love would endure no matter the circumstance (from 1 Cor 13:4-7). That is exactly Christ’s love for us and and his bride, we should be showing that same love to others. Thank you, Jesus, for showing me that kind of love even when I don’t feel it for others and please let me hold tight to what is good – You, and really love others like you love me!

  8. Thank you Karen, I cannot tell you much of a problem this has been for me and how God has just recently been showing me HIS TRUTH in regards to this. Every time I would come across Mathew 12:34 “…For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” I would just sort of go right past it because I could not admit to myself, much less anyone else that I was having a heart issue. I really want God to do heart surgery on me.
    Psalm 73: 21-24 NIV When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your council, and afterward you will take me into glory.

  9. 1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2

  10. Thank you for allowing God to speak through you. I must say my toes are a little sore. But, oh how much I want to be like Jesus!! I am so thankful that He never gives up on me!! Becoming changed into His likeness is my sole (soul) desire.

  11. I thank God for devoted and gifted speakers like you karen. How we are blessed by the devotions, and how the Holy spirit speaks by his word to touch the very soul of our heart. This scripture comes to mind, Hebrews 4:12, For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing can be hidden from God. He sees all we do and knows all we think.
    Todays devotion help me to see that I needed to ajust my mind and attitude. My husband and son had to confronted the council of our indian tribe last week, because my son thought he was being treated unfairly by applying for jobs on the reservation. This meeting ended with no resolution or decision. They stated that it would have been resolved, if it wasn’t your family. This hurt all of us. Please pray for my son Valan, and thank you for being the obedient servant, in encouraging us with the word of God.
    God willing, I’am entering the drawing.

  12. Reading this devotional made me think about how good God is and how we have to keep our minds stayed on him at all times , he will use things to get our attention. My favorite scripture is Seek ye first Gods kingdom and his righteousness and all things will be added unto you. Matt. 6:33

  13. This seems to be the topic of discussion lately. Lysa Terkerst last week blogged about raw emotions and now today we are reminded to “mind our own sin”. I like that phrase by the way and will have to borrow it.

    I am reminded of “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. Do I want to be judged harshly? Do I want to be put into a category before someone has a chance to know me? Do I want to be left out simply because I am not known? The answer is, of course, no. So I strive to listen to see and hear the whole story, I strive to get to know the whole person and I involve without really knowing yet.

    Blessings
    Jessica

  14. “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” Phil. 2:3

    “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Eph. 4:31-32

    Good stuff! Not easy to do, but what He requires! Praise God for grace and the Holy Spirit who enables us to do these things! All glory to God!

  15. Last week I too was quick to size up the situation, defending my position and justifying my actions. The Lord graciously reminded me of Colossians 3:12 — “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

  16. This is really hitting home for me right now. I am going thru a trying time with a friend and I need to remember to ” mind my own sin” and accept that I cannot change her, only myself and how I react. I need to react to keep God in focus rather than any hurt feelings I may have. Thank you for this post. I am so glad that I found you.

  17. Wow…… this really hits home. I do have to be honest that I do have questions. I really do want to live how God wants me to live.

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