Maybe you've heard the phrase, "The proof is in the pudding." According to Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, this phrase dates back to at least 1615 when Miguel de Cervantes published Don Quixote. In his comic novel, he gives us the root phrase, "The proof of the pudding is the eating." It implies that the value of something is best judged when it's in use.

In the days of the early church, the presence of the apostles most always brought accompany miracles. These things were often viewed as physical evidence of God's anointing on their ministry, a virtual pudding proof like Cervantes' metaphor. But today, such signs and wonders are missing as we're left on our own to distinguish which preachers, teachers or ministries have God's approval and which one's are flying solo.

Today, you can't watch television or listen to the news without hearing a skewed viewpoint designed to influence your opinion. This from an industry that used to view objectivity as a conviction. All too sadly, Christian ministries also skew the truth to influence you to believe they have God's blessing when they really don't. They may think they do, but they mostly believe you'll give them money if you're convinced they're doing God's work.

Before you judge others for their hypocrisy, maybe you need to look at your own life. Are you going where God would have you go and doing what He expects you to do? Do people see Jesus in you and does the peace of God cover your life with confidence that proves you are a product of His grace and power? If not, maybe you ought to take care of the log in your own eye before you criticize someone else for the splinter in theirs.

1 Developed from Read the Bible Thru ( Nh. 11:1-12:26 1 Co. 10:15-11:2 Ps. 34:11-22 Pr. 21:14-16 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

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