The Great Artist's chisel!

(Charles Spurgeon, "The Tender Pity of the Lord" #941)

Jesus taught the disciples humility by His humility.

He taught them gentleness by His gentleness.

He did not point out their defects in words.

He did not dwell upon their errors, but He rather let them see their own spots by His purity, their own defects by His perfection.

Oh, the marvelous tenderness of Christ, who so paternally pitied those who feared Him!  

Remember that your brethren and sisters in Christ, with whom you find so much fault, are God's elect. And if He chose them, why do you reject them?

They are bought with Christ's blood, and if He thought them worth so much, why do you think so little of them?

Recollect, too, that with all their badness there are some good points in them in which they excel you.

They do not know so much, but perhaps they act better than you.

It may be that they are more faulty in pride, but perhaps they excel you in generosity.

Or if perhaps one man is a little quick in temper, yet he is more zealous than you.

Look at the bright side of your brother, and the black side of yourself, instead of reversing the order as many do.

The drift of this lesson is this; as your heavenly Father has pity on you, have pity on one another.

Jesus, the Compassionate One, covers  our sins with the mantle of His love!

Be as tender towards those who sin as the Master was.

He remembers that we are dust; remember this of others.

I will not find fault with you, my friend, if I can help it, because you will be one day without fault before the throne of God!

If God will so soon remove your faults, why should I take note of them?

I will not peevishly complain of the 'rough stone'; for I see it is under the Great Artist's chisel, and I will tarry till I see the beauty which He brings out of it.