My pastor sat down in my church office and told me about a parishioner he had encountered years ago at another church. The woman, known for her criticism, felt that he did nothing right, and she shared those sentiments with others. His sermons weren’t the kind of preaching she liked. At best, she said, they were “mediocre.” She even asked him why he didn’t preach like some of the ministers on TV. When he met to talk with her about her criticisms, she didn’t back down. But even with all of the venom he received from the woman, my pastor could say to me, “There were many wonderful things she did for the church. We’re all mixed bags, Marlena, all mixed bags. Just remember that.”

I took his words to heart, because I know I’m a mixed bag too. While I may not often struggle with constantly and publicly criticizing others, there are certainly times when I grumble in my heart against people (see Philippians 2:14). As Galatians 5:17 says, “The Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other.”

I’m called to love my neighbor as myself (Galatians 5:14), but I want to love my neighbor when it’s easy and convenient. The real test of my love comes when it’s difficult and inconvenient.

Which reminds me: When I’m tempted to point out the sins of others (most often family members) to take specks out of their eyes (Matthew 7:3-5), I need to remember that I too am a mixed bag. I too struggle even if it’s not with the same sins. The realization that I’m much more a sinner than a saint is humbling.

Praise God that He helps me deal with my faulty, human ways (Galatians 5:22)—producing a mixed bag of “fruit” that can honor Him!

NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Esther 3:1-15