Unfinished Business

I think one of the most encouraging verses in the Bible is Philippians 1:6: "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Aren't you thankful that God isn't finished with you yet? I would hate to think that I was a final copy. So would most of my friends!
And you know, God isn't finished with the other guy yet either. Do you keep that in mind when you look at the lives of other Christians? Can I give you three biblical principles dealing with evaluating others? Thanks, I knew you wouldn't mind.
First, show mercy. "Be merciful as your Father in heaven is merciful." God never misses an opportunity to show mercy. We can all be thankful for that. And we should do the same when forming an opinion of others.
Next, pattern yourself after those who demonstrate unconditional love and a forgiving heart when they look at another Christian's life. "The disciple is not above his Master." The times they've "failed us" allow us to show them the unconditional love of Christ. "Be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven you." And how has He forgiven us? Freely, fully, and without remembrance.
Finally, evaluate your own shortcomings--your own share of the problem. Get the telephone pole out of your own eye before you attempt major surgery on the splinter in someone else's eye. When God gives us discernment--we're not very spiritually bright on our own--it's so we'll pray for a brother in Christ, not judge him.
Remember, God's the one making the final copy, not you. He might like the way He's expressing Himself through the other person's life just fine. His growth might be right on schedule. And besides, if He has a little revision planned for tomorrow, it's probably in our life not theirs.