Because I tend to forget most of the project ideas that pop in my head, I’m going to try jotting some of my ideas down here to reference at a later time. We’ll see how this works. As an added bonus, you can send your feedback on my project thoughts. It might help me develop them further or know that they deserve to be forgotten.
Heard a good sermon today. There’s a bunch of stuff in it that I’d like to stick with me. aaand Enter today’s post.
To start, I’d like to remember that it is foolish to think that I (or you) are the only one who struggles with falling into sin all while knowing it is sin. The great men of God dealt with the same struggle and fell to it as well. One example Chandler brings to attention is Paul. Writing a majority of the New Testament and showing great wisdom and power, Paul is established as Chandler puts it “a man of God at a varisty level”. Now read through the words below written by Paul.
21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Even Paul was tormented with knowing and desiring what is good yet carrying out evil. This is important to take in and remember during the times we feel alone an alienated driven down by shame and guilt.
Numbah two. Iniquities = bent towards something. For example, something presses on you and the response is blank. Blank is the iniquity such as anger, lust, self-destruction. This sets up the next text and next Godly man struggling example. David wrote:
13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me;
Make haste, O LORD, to help me
David, a man after God’s own heart, was overtaken by his iniquities and sins to the point where he felt blind.
Numbah Three. The wrong way to handle temptation and sin Verses The right way to struggle through temptation
Wrong – do same sin over and over and over until you finally decide it’s just what you struggle with. You must try harder and white knuckle it. Feel guilty and in response try harder in your own power to fix yourself. This is struggling alone and convincing yourself that you are doing everything.
Right – struggle with temptation, sometimes falling, but moving in the right direction. Long obedience in the right direction. The direction motivated not by guilt of sin but motivated by an understanding that we have offended God and His response is the Cross.
You will not stumble into Godliness. It takes training and effort. Progressive sanctification comes from training in righteousness. It leads to growth over time. Wait for God while you walk in obedience. He will renew your strength (Isaiah 40:31)
Reflection – Are you struggling well, or are you NOT struggling well and are you praying for wisdom on what to do and how to struggle?
My prayer today is that when I begin to feel alienated after falling into sin, that I will remember I am not alone. I am not the only one to sin and I have access to the ONLY one who can fix me. And You are good. I am free because of the hope found in the cross. I pray that my iniquities are not overpowering and that I allow You to be my strength. Furthermore, I pray that my pride is continuously smothered and that I seek Your guidance to be trained as a person who struggles well. As years pass, I hope to look back and see the results of that training. Thank you Father for your Grace.
This is the second edition of Special Day of the Week post. You can look forward to future posts to enjoy celebrations of an interesting or odd special recognized day of the year. I plan on choosing no more than one a week.
So chime in. What do you think? and how can you or have you celebrated Wave All Your Fingers At Your Neighbors Day .
People are crazy. But it is fun to watch them. You can find building blocks anywhere… or just use your friends.
*Disclaimer* No, I am not talking about physically killing oneself. However, interesting thought, I am pro pride suicide.
That’s the way I want to live. So often I succumb to seeking my own desires and am consumed by self. It is tiring… exhausting rather, to fight this temptation without taking up my cross daily and allowing Christ with His unfathomable power to live in and through me. Even one day without recognizing God in His glory is chaotic and disastrous.
Today, I read the following. Verse 16 resonated with me and prompted this post.
16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
Jesus denied His physical comfort for us by being broken and torn on the cross, but even more sacrificial was His momentary separation from God the father by taking up our sins. True love is found in true selflessness.
My prayer today is that I might receive God’s power and overcome all temptation to live for me. For my comfort, my success, my pleasure, my wants, my pride, my glory. But instead, that I will have the strength to love as Christ loved. To sacrifice self and live for my Father, my king, my friend. To love others in purity and humility. ALL others, no matter how they act or what they do. Death to self! Rise up true love.
