When you are following Jesus, you don’t compare yourself to others. You can’t. Only God has enough understanding of you and me (Psalm 139:1), and he isn’t judging us on who we are, but whose we are. If we are connected to Jesus, we are judged pure by God. Not because of what we have done, but because of what he has done.

There is a challenge to this teaching. We are humans and we have certain ways of facing life. Years ago, author Scott Peck wrote an influential book, The Road Less Traveled. In it he talks about two types of people.

Neurotic- tend to place responsibility for problems in life on themselves.

Character Disorder- tend to place the responsibility for problems outside of themselves.

Peck says we have a bit of both characteristics within us, but one way of thinking is dominant. A neurotic is constantly beating up on himself/herself about their unworthiness. Someone with character disorder is always pointing a finger at someone or something else for their problems. They are never personally wrong. Do you see how this can be a challenge living out our relationship with Jesus? Neurotics have a difficult time realizing forgiveness and character disorder folks don’t think they need it. More tomorrow.