Quit Beating Yourself Up

 ^"So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace". - Romans 11:5-6 (ERV)

I was reading through Romans this morning and Romans 11:5-6 really hit home with me. You see as sinner redeemed by the Grace of God I sometimes tend to get tripped up on my short-comings and failures. I beat myself up because I just don't seem to meet up to my own unattainable expectations. I didn't read my Bible enough today, I didn't pray enough, I slipped back into the very thing that I swore I'd never do again. These things can really taint our perspective of things and I know that I'm not the only one that feels this way from time to time. 

I know for me much of this can be attributed to that "holier than thou" Christian group that looks down their noses at others and are just appalled that any so-called Christian can till struggle with things. Oh Yes, you're out there I know because I've joined that group a few times myself at one time or another. For me, I grew up around a ton of old-school theology where much of it wasn't even Biblical theology but more of just someone's opinion or personal convictions being passed off as sin. This actually pushed me away from the Church and I ultimately made the decision that I didn't want anything to do with God. 

Fast-forward many years and now back in relationship with God I still find myself beating myself up for things and I seem to have to constantly remind myself that a true walk with God is a process. This portion of scripture (Romans 11:5-6) reminds me that God chose me and forgave me and I didn't do anything to cause that to happen; it was His grace that did that. There is nothing that I can do (or NOT do) that will cause God to love me any more or any less. Think about that for a minute and if you truly can wrap your head around that it's liberating. 

So that means we can do whatever we want because God's grace has us covered  right? Absolutely not but that's a completely different topic (see Romans 6:1-14 if you're interested in this). For the time being I just want to let you know that God has called you to greatness and there is nothing you can do (or not do) that will change the amount of grace and love that He has for you. 

So I leave you with this reminder from The Apostle Paul found in Ephesians 2:8-9, he says, "For it’s by God’s grace that you have been saved. You receive it through faith. It was not our plan or our effort. It is God’s gift, pure and simple. You didn't earn it, not one of us did, so don’t go around bragging that you must have done something amazing." (The VOICE translation)

Take Care & God bless,

-E

Love & Compassion

I may catch some heat for this but I have a responsibility to myself and God to write about what I feel I’m being pressed to write about. Lately I've really been exposed to the harshness of Christianity, yes that’s right I said it. In a collection of people who claim to be "Followers of Christ" and "Christ-like" why does there seem to be so much judging, lack of compassion and love? In John 13:34 & 35 Jesus tells His disciples, "I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other just as I loved you. All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other.” So if this is how "All people" will know we are His disciples and if we are not doing this; then what exactly are we doing ? We debate and argue to prove our points with scripture and tell everyone exactly what they are doing wrong but we are doing it with the wrong motives; where’s the love in something like that? If you are not doing it out of love and are leaving this out of the equation; you're missing an important key. (See 1 Corinthians 13:2)

Now I’m not pointing fingers at anybody because I've done this myself from time to time. Looking back I can see that more often than not this is done purely out of ignorance. A lot of people get angry when you start throwing that word around but by definition it simply means,"Lacking knowledge, information, or awareness about something in particular.” We get angry at a select group of people and past judgment on them and we do this all out of ignorance. I mean if we truly knew what it was like to wrestle with those same demons that they deal with day in and day out maybe we wouldn't be so quick to write them off as hypocritical. If we could truly feel the pangs of lust, or felt the yearnings of alcoholism, or if we could actually walk a mile in the lonely shoes of that single Mom with three kids that are depending on her to put food on the table, then maybe just maybe we’d be able to show a fraction of that same compassion & love that Jesus showed.

Take Care & God Bless

-E

Sin Struggle

Romans 7:14-25

I've been really digging into this portion of scripture for the past couple of days and honestly there’s a lot in it. While reading this and studying it a few things occurred to me. In this portion of scripture you can almost hear the pleading and angst in Paul’s inner voice as he penned this. He goes on to talk about the duality that exists within him and from what we read here he just can’t seem to understand why he does what he does.

Now for those of us few that haven’t arrived at the “Super Christian” status and still have struggles (sarcasm intended) we really can relate to this. So I’m going to let you all in on a little secret…are you ready for this bombshell…? I still struggle with sin! What..!?!?! HEATHEN! INFIDEL! Yea, yea save it judgey judgerson who died and left you in charge? So does this mean that I am eternally doomed to Hell and that I should be ousted from ever serving in my church? I don’t believe so and according to what Paul wrote here I don’t believe that God feels that way about us either.

Sin entered this world through the actions of one man (Adam) and because of the counteractions of another (Jesus) we are forgiven if we choose to be. The temptation to Sin in today’s microwaved, fast-paced, sexually-charged, hedonistic society is huge but we have to remember that to be tempted is NOT a sin, but it’s when we act out and give in to the temptation that it becomes sin. The enemy however will try any tactic to slip us up and bring condemnation…yes even lie. Even Jesus was tempted (see Matthew 4) and He fought it with the Word of God, by quoting the only never-changing truth, the Bible.

Paul goes on and on in this portion of Romans and just can’t figure out why he does what he doesn't want to do, and he comes to the conclusion that there is a sin nature that wages war within against the new creation that we take on when we accept Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Paul ends this 7^th chapter of Romans saying “Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.” (Romans 7:24-25 NLT)

I tend to beat myself up over the fact that I am tempted to sin from time to time and this will inevitably bring despair, discouragement and condemnation not from God but from the enemy. It’s in these times that I have begin to combat the temptations to sin with God’s Word and the promises He’s given us within that Word. A great resource I use is a Topical Bible either online or an app on my iPhone. Joyce Meyer also has a great book called, “The Secret Power of Speaking God’s Word.” These mentioned resources are based on specific topics. So if you are feeling the temptation to lust, feeling depressed, or just lonely you can look up that specific word and find a barrage of scriptures to combat the lies with the truth of God’s Word.

God is not sitting up in Heaven just waiting to pound you if you do mess up. Christ came, died and rose again for the sins of the world…all the sins of the world; past, present and future. So if you have messed up then tell God (repent), learn from it and move on. The enemy would like nothing better than for you to get down on yourself and just give up, but you’re better than that because greater is He (Christ) that is within you than he (the devil) that is in the world.

Take Care & God Bless

-E