FILED UNDER
POSTED ON
Just a couple of weeks ago we celebrated Easter. We, of course, did the usual Easter egg hunt with our boys and gave them Easter baskets but we also made sure that they, at the least, heard the true Resurrection story. I think so often that even adults tend to take that story for granted. Probably the first scripture we all memorized was John 3:16,
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that who ever would believe in Him would not perish, but have eternal life”
But do we truly know what that means for us? Another popular scripture, Romans 6:23, says
“The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus.”
We are sinful creatures by nature. We sometimes even try to justify our sin as big and little by saying things such as “Well at least I don’t…” the thing is however, God sees all sin as the same. We are quick to judge the sins of others and minimize our own sins. Instead when we see someone fall, we should realize that that could have been and in some cases, could be us. Let me give a quick example:
An old acquaintance of mine got into some fairly serious legal trouble just a couple of weeks ago. This was big because the area we are from, although expanding quickly, has small town structure meaning that everyone knows you and who you are connected to. Facebook was a buzz! People were writing think pieces and choosing sides and, although I’m friends with quite a few lawyers and probably one judge, you would have been shocked at how many verdicts and sentences were handed out just on that social media platform. The thing is, that’s not our place as the body of Christ. If we are being real, we have already failed for it to get to this point. Galatians 6:1 says
“Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are Godly, should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself”
Our job as brother and sisters in Christ is to pray for those who have fallen. We pray that they learn, and grow, and do better in the future but their fate is out of our hands. God have forgiven them and restored them and he has forgiven and restored you and me as well.
One last scripture example as we close out, in the gospel of Luke chapter 15 it starts by saying that the tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to hear Jesus speak and the crazy thing is, the Pharisees and other teachers of religious law got upset. Could you imagine sinners who realized they need to be closer to Jesus and others getting upset?
When Jesus died on the cross it wasn’t just for Christians. And yes, the gift of eternal life comes through confession but the weight of sin was hung on the cross with Jesus. We are all worthy of forgiveness and we, as the body of Christ, are tasked with leading the lost to the one who can forgive even their worst transgressions. This week I challenge you to be prayerful for yourself and those around you and remember that although everyone has a struggle they are facing, through Christ, we are forgiven.
Share this post
I know that most people are in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the season, but December always reminds me to slow down and reflect. It’s something about the cold weather that forces me to cozy up and sit still… I believe the stillness opens
With a little over 30 days left in the year, it’s easy to put a pin in new ideas or projects until the new year. As tempting as enjoying the pause may be, there are some things that we have been called to do that require our action now. Spiritual callings require our steadfast attention, not temporary devotion when our schedules allow. In this season, the Lord has been challenging me to finish well.
In a culture that values purpose and spiritual gifting, it’s interesting how quickly we toss them to the side when we’re fatigued or distracted. We yield to the flesh instead of the Holy Spirit’s guidance. We abandon how we show up out of convenience; missing opportunities to share the Gospel or be the hands and feet of Christ. Simply put, we fail to finish well.
El Roi. The God who sees me. When we talk about Hagar, we often refer to this tender exchange. This exact moment in the wilderness when she encounters God… when she accepts correction and instruction to return to a tense situation… when she receives the promise concerning the son in her womb… when she recognizes that she is seen and known by name. Yes, this is a pivotal moment, marked with such a significant name, and as I began to walk through Hagar’s story, to be seen, is so much deeper than watching someone visually.
“Are you going to try for another one?”
The ink on our marriage certificate wasn’t even dry before people began to ask when my husband and I were planning on having children. This seemingly innocent question was often met with ‘we don’t know’ outwardly, but inwardly it reinforced the shame of not being able to conceive a child.
I am the one in four.
If you or someone close to you is in need, we would be honored to lift you up in prayer. We believe in the power of prayer to bring peace, comfort, and reassurance during times of hardship. Our community is ready to join together and pray as we trust in God’s love and unending grace.
