What shameful things are hidden in the brain matter that stores your memories? Everyone of us has done things yesterday that make us blush today when we recall them. Sexual exploits at a college party, lies told gain a promotion, unfaithfulness to marital vows, shady decisions to maximize profits, and explosions of hurtful rage are just a few of the confessions I have heard over the years from people who say, "I want to become a ____ (fill in the blank with your vision) that makes a difference for the Lord, but I cannot because I did _____ (again fill in the blank with some sin or failure). Consider this! "Satan uses guilt...to strip you of every radical dream you ever had or might have. In their place he gives you a safe, happy, secure American life of superficial pleasures, until you die in your rocking chair." - (John Piper, CT, October, 2007) This sentence is written in the context of an article about sexual sin, but it can apply to every kind of moral failure.
Millions of people who would like to do something for God conclude that they are too stained, and thus, too unworthy, to accept the call to holy service, so they take up another 'call' - the call of success, to call to accumulate wealth, the call to seek diversions in attempts to satisfy the need for meaning and/or significance that the Lord Himself put into them to call them higher in life. Are you one of them? If so, it's time to change your perspective, from the sins of your past, to the possibility of a God-honoring life that is the will of the Lord for all of us. No one is too anything to be beyond God's forgiveness.
Paul persecuted Christians even seeking their deaths, but he became the foremost messenger of the Gospel.
David murdered a friend so he could marry the man's wife, but he became the foremost author of worship songs in the Bible.
Peter swore he did not know Jesus at the very moment his Friend was being tried, but he became the leader of the Believers in the early years of Christianity.
Not for a moment do I mean to suggest that living a holy life is unimportant for someone who wants to serve the Kingdom in this world. The Bible is amply clear that holiness of heart and mind is an absolute requirement of those who want to live intimately with the Lord and enjoy the empowerment of the Spirit! The Scripture asks, "Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself." (1 Corinthians 6:19, NLT) The Psalm warns - "If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened," (Psalm 66:18, NIV) meaning that if we love our sin, we break our intimacy with Jesus.
But know this: the remedy for sin - past, present, and future - is not found in religion, rules, or accountability groups. Each of those things might serve some good purpose, but making you and me holy is not one of them! Holiness that qualifies us for the service of God results from a spiritual transformation that comes from knowing Jesus Christ and accepting for ourselves, in faith, what He did on the Cross on our behalf! We do not get ourselves right with God! We are made right with God. "Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us." (Romans 5:1, NLT) "And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory." (Romans 8:30, NLT)
Do not let the Devil tell you that you're too unworthy to answer God's call to serve. Just point that liar to the Cross. No amount of your own goodness will silence him, for he can always find a sin, a flaw to shame you. Receive the righteousness that is perfect; that of the Savior. Then, let the Lord make you holy, washing away the sins. By His strength, live a holy life, choosing to live deeply in His Presence today and everyday, by grace. The paradox of the Cross-centered life is that God's greatest glory is revealed at the point of our greatest shame! Yes, we feel sorrow when we lie, cheat, serve our ego, and indulge lust as well we should, but let it be a godly sorrow that leads to repentance. Piper finishes his thoughts with this amazing paragraph. "When you deal with (sin) by this kind of broken-hearted boldness... a gutsy guilt; you will fall less often. Why is this so? Because Christ will become increasingly precious to you. Best of all, Satan will not be able to destroy your dream of a life of radical obedience to Christ." - ibid
Here's a word from the Word. Let it inspire you today to do the will of God.
"This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners"—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.
All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen." - Paul(1 Timothy 1:15-17, NLT)
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I will serve Thee because I love Thee,
You have given life to me;
I was nothing before You found me,
You have given life to me.
Heartaches, broken pieces,
Ruined lives are why You died on Calv'ry;
Your touch was what I longed for;
You have given life to me.
I Will Serve Thee
© 1969 William J. Gaither, Inc. ARR UBP of Gaither Copyright Management
CCLI License No. 810055
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