I’m horrible at keeping promises. Especially to myself. For instance, I promised myself to read a devotional every morning. After all, what’s ten or fifteen minutes to spend in the word and with God? Shouldn’t I be willing to “sacrifice” that much?

When I do, I’m often convicted. About many things. Or if not convicted, certainly given a moment of clarity.

One such instance happened a few days ago. The devotional I chose is “My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers.

The subject of the day was about keeping our bodies pure as God’s temple. The part that stood out to me was, “Most of us are much sterner with others than we are in regard to ourselves; we make excuses for things in ourselves whilst we condemn others things to which we are not naturally inclined.”

If you spend any time on certain social media platforms, you’ll see people condemning others for their particular sins. While it’s important to know what sin is and to help others overcome them, how often do we snarl at the sins we don’t commit, and refuse to eradicate the ones that ensnare us?

The answer is easy: pride. It takes humility to acknowledge the things we do wrong, and it takes even more to give them to God and ask him to give us the strength to overcome them. We keep thinking we can do it all in our own strength.

Plus we do love our sins at times, don’t we?

Scripture is clear on two things.

1. We cannot overcome sin without God’s help: No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:13

2. Before condemning others for their sins, we should first check our own: You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. ~Matthew 7:5 (see also John 8:1-11)