After the Gathering on Sunday night, after looking at the temptation of Jesus, after Aaron challenged us with the things that tempt us, a friend came up to me and here's the question he asked: "Do you ever feel like you always fail; you know, like, you always give into the temptation?"
I've been thinking about that question for three days now, in some form or another. To answer it in short form, yes, I do feel that way. But let me explain. The longer I walk with Christ, the closer and richer my relationship with Him becomes, the more I become aware of the darkness inside me. In fact, I regularly ask God in prayer to show me my sin so that I might draw closer to Him. The process of becoming aware of our own brokenness leaves us no choice but to trust fully in our salvation that is by grace alone in Christ alone, having nothing to do with any test we've passed. There seems to be two different directions we can go when we fail; we'll look at them.
Shame is one of the Enemy's most utilized tools, and when we give into temptation and sin, the door is left wide open for shame to take root. Shame and conviction are two different things. As Christians who have the Spirit of God living in us, when we sin we can experience a conviction that leads to confession, repentance and renewal. Shame is a totally different animal. Shame accuses; it uses the 'you' voice (You aren't this, You' can't that, etc.). Shame puts a choke hold on our prayer life, as all of a sudden our prayers are no longer focused on the glory of Christ, rather, they tend to draw into our self pity. When this takes root inside us, we're separated from relationship with others too, isolating into shame rather than walking in the light. Jesus wasn't tempted so that we might be shamed.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
Romans 8:1
Bad habits are hard to break; we all have them. But the shame and self absorption that can come with them are simply the result of giving the Enemy a foothold. What is your pressure point? Where do you struggle? What specific sin do you struggle with repeatedly? Chances are, you know the answer to this without any thought. Here's the challenge: talk to somebody about it this week. Ask them for their experience. Don't just give lip service to community; practice it. Do you feel like you always give in?
18Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Hebrews 2:18
13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
1 Corinthians 10:13
------ End of Forwarded Message
No comments:
Post a Comment