No one has a 360 degree view of themselves, that is why we need each other. There are literally places on your physical body you cannot see with your own eyes if you do not have a mirror. This weekend, I had something on the end of my nose, I could not see it, but one of my friends could and she said, there is something on the end of your nose, scratch it off. She did not scratch it off for me, she told me it was there and said I needed to scratch it off. I was not offended by her words, I was grateful for them. Lord knows I don’t want to be walking around with something on the end of my nose that others can see and I can’t. (Thank you Misty Meeker)

The same is true in the spirit, there are things in ourselves we cannot see but others can. It takes humility to hear what others see in you and not get offended by what they said. If someone points something out in you, it is not to shame you, embarrass you or condemn you, it is to make you aware so you can do something about it. I was reading Revelation 22 this morning and it identifies two locations, one is inside the city and one is outside the city. As I read it, I realized, we have a choice about where we want to live and we have a responsibility in order to live in the city. Listen to the apostle John’s words, “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.”

It is our responsibility to wash our robes, to make a choice where we want to live. No one else can do this for us, it is our choice and our choice will yield certain benefits or challenges. Do we want everyone to wash their robes and come in, absolutely, but when you share with someone something you see on them or in them, if they resist you, get offended by you, there is nothing you can do, for they have to wash their robe, make their choice and then come into the city. I am a city dweller, I have no desire to be outside, but I also invite people in all the time, but many don’t want to be told their robe needs to be washed, not by me, but by them and so they remain outside the city. It breaks my heart, but I can’t make anyone wash their robe and come in the city. The invitation is there, but the choice is still yours/mine.