She talked to me about her struggles and I heard about
struggles through many years that had taken a terrible toll. Hers was an ugly
story of broken relationships, addiction, and misery. I heard about
people who had done some awful things to her and about choices in life that
were sinful as well as destructive. It is hard to admit, but part of me did not
want to feel compassion! I was tempted by judgment.
Why? Because, compassion requires something from me.
The easier way is to distance myself from her: “She created the mess; she will
have to climb out of it.” The Spirit whispered as I wrestled with my
temptation asking me, “Did Jesus walk away from you when you made a mess of
your life? Who gave you time, grace, and love when you needed it?”
Compassion won.
So, why did I feel that temptation? What is the answer?
Life is complex and simple answers to the questions that swirl in us and
around us are seldom right. Tangled knots of multiple causes bring us to this
moment- good or bad. Finding wholeness, for ourselves and others, requires
time, thought, and the intervention of God, the Holy Spirit. “I got
saved!” is a wonderful expression. Experiencing forgiveness and the new birth
that Jesus gives is an amazing thing. But, the crisis of conversion must
be followed by the process of discipleship in which we deal with our brokenness
with patience, untangling those knots with steady pursuit of the will of
God. Christianity in America is plagued by the demand for quick solutions,
instant changes, and effortless discipleship.
As much as we love the miracle moments celebrated movies or
books, we must not forget the process that preceded the ‘miracle.’
Consider this –
·
Marriages are not saved by a single choice. A couple becomes
deeply loving with daily choices to care, to share, to be unselfish.
·
Sinful habits are not broken with one prayer. They are
overcome with honest confession, adopting new truth, and ongoing submission
to the will of God.
·
Beautiful Christian lives are like great works of art,
created over time by the Master Artist, as we, His canvas, allow Him to work in
us. "For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus,
so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." (Ephesians
2:10, NLT)
Christian as you look over your own life do see things that
are not as you want them to be?
Do you see gaps between what you profess to believe and how
you actually live?
Do you want a miracle moment instead of a discipleship
process?
You are not unique in this! We all experience
unanticipated consequences of choices made in the past. Paul teaches us about
two natures that struggle for mastery in each of us. The “flesh” or “sinful nature”
in which we were born pulls us toward satisfying ourselves with things of the
moment, gifts good in their proper place, but not meant to be served as
ultimate ends. The spiritual nature, made alive by the Spirit when we come to
Christ as Savior, lifts us to seek God, to pursue the kind of life that has
value. "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds
set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the
Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." (Romans 8:5,
NIV) "Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the
Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ,
he does not belong to Christ." (Romans 8:8-9, NIV)
Grow in grace. Mature in the Way. Deepen in
understanding.
Here is the word from the Word. "Christ (will) dwell
in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established
in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and
long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that
surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness
of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or
imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in
the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!
Amen." (Ephesians 3:17-21, NIV)
___________
Lord I Need You
Lord I come, I confess;
Bowing here, I find my rest.
And without You, I fall apart,
You're the one that guides my heart.
Lord I need You, oh I need You.
Ev'ry hour I need You.
My one defense, my righteousness,
Oh God, how I need You.
Where sin runs deep, Your grace is more.
Where grace is found is where You are.
And where You are, Lord, I am free.
Holiness is Christ in me.
Where You are Lord, I am free,
Holiness is Christ in me.
So teach my song to rise to You,
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You.
Jesus You're my hope and stay,
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You.
Jesus, You're my hope and stay!
Lord I need You, oh I need You,
Ev'ry hour I need You.
My one defense, my righteousness.
Oh God how I need You.
Christy Nockels | Daniel Carson | Jesse Reeves | Kristian
Stanfill | Matt Maher
© 2011 sixsteps Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
CCLI License # 810055
No comments:
Post a Comment