Whispered Lies

Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.  II Corinthians 11:14. 
Most women have the same problem: our mothering instinct causes us to want to change people.  We somehow get it in our heads that we are all powerful in this particular area and set out to change all those we love. Satan whispers in our ear what sounds good and true, "Your love will change him/her.  Love covers a multitude of sin."  (I Peter 4:8)  We allow Satan to deceive us and lie to ourselves in this regard, because we still have Adams' (man and woman at creation up until the fall of man) blood flowing through our veins.Peter does indeed tell us that our love for each other will cover a multitude of sin, but he is not saying we should condone the sin.  He is saying we should continue loving people even when they sin, not because they sin.  Should we point out sin?  Yes, not out of self gratification or frustration, anger, resentment, jealousy, etc. (as those things too are sin), but out of our great love for the person and our desire to see them set free.  Should we nag, irritate and try to drag them into submission, obedience and deliverance? 

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4
When we see someone in sin, it makes us like a parent to them.  We know better, they do not, or like a child choose to do it anyway.  Nagging and trying to force a change only makes matters worse.  What do we do then?  After saying something along the lines of, "I love you and wish you wouldn't do things that are detrimental to your health and well-being," we set the example in the way we live and continue walking in love through prayer and thanksgiving.  If it is literally our child, then we must discipline in a means that encourages them to stop and repent, rather than discourages them from listening to us ever again.  We also need to examine our own lives on a continual basis.  Is there any sin I am addicted to that I need to say "no" to from this point forward?  Do I over eat?  Am I addicted to caffeine or chocolate?  Am I persistently late, robbing people of their time?  Am I a slob and totally disorganized?   This list could go on forever.  We must examine ourselves deliberately and constantly if we truly want to set the example for those we love and help them mature into well-rounded, well-adjusted, fulfilled and devout believers in the one true and living God, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Father, walk with me as I strive to examine every aspect of my life daily.  Point out to me the things that I overlook deliberately or simply miss that need mending, correcting, or cleaning out.  Help me remember that I am no better than those I love and desire to see set free other than possibly the fact that I have You in me helping me face my day to day trials and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness.  Without You, I am nothing, but with You I have everything I could ever want or need.