Have you ever been seeking after God, trying to do what is right, and still messed up?I have.
Just recently I did something that seemed right at the time, and I had the right motives, but it was a dumb move that brought bad results. Right now I'm experiencing the consequences of my poor choice. It's always so much easier to look back on situations and know what the right choice would have been, but sometimes it's difficult to determine when in the midst of the situation.
Through this situation I've caused myself, I've been choosing to rejoice in God. Choosing to thank Him and trust Him with my life even though some things are looking rather dire.
But I've been tempted to beat myself up over my mistake. Then, last night the Holy Spirit encouraged me, He reminded me that I am not my actions. That, because of the work of Christ on the cross, because I have accepted His death in my place and given my life to Him, that God sees me as clean and gives me a hope and future (Hebrews 2:14-17,Romans 5:1-2, Jeremiah 29:11). It's not about my actions, it's about God's actions; it's about what God has done, and is continuing to do, in my life.
What hope and freedom this truth brings.
This line of thought irritates an atheist acquaintance of mine because it seems to him that I'm saying that if I just have the correct belief, that I can go act any way I please. The thing is, that because of the very truth that God loves me and considers me acceptable and His child regardless of my actions, I want to do the right thing more than ever. I'm reminded of how in Romans 6:15-18 the apostle Paul describes that God's grace makes us want more than ever to give Him our entire lives and have a holy life, a life set apart for God, instead living to satisfy my selfish desires.
The grace of God changes me. I don't deserve it. I can't earn it. The overwhelming goodness of His graces changes me from the inside out.
Have you ever found that you can be seeking God but still mess up? What effects does God's grace have on your life?
15 comments:
God is not looking for perfection. He is looking for progress. We don't expect our young children to drive cars, nor do we punish them for not doing it. God is like that.
Because we love God (if we don't, the rules don't apply.) we want to please him. And regardless of our failures, as small as some of them may be, we are assured of forgivenss each time we ask.
Some folks think grace is a license to sin, but really, it is an open door for realtionship with God.
Romans 6:1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
We can work hard all we want but our own righteousness never accomplishes anything. It is the life changing power that comes only from Jesus that saves us. His mercy. His grace. Grace that can soften hardened hearts. Blessings.
"Have you ever found that you can be seeking God but still mess up? What effects does God's grace have on your life?"
I mess up all the time Tracy. He give me hope some day I will not mess it up any worse.
Tracy,
"This line of thought irritates and atheist acquaintance of mine because it seems to him that I'm saying that if I just have the correct belief, that I can go act any way I please."
Was this aimed at me?
I would say that it doesn't irritate me, although I do see it as a dangerous concept. I would also argue that that's exactly what it means.
"The thing is, that because of the very truth that God loves me and considers me acceptable and His child regardless of my actions, I want to do the right thing more than ever."
I'm not seeing the logical connection here. If you truly want to be a moral person, then great for you (and for all those around you). I'm sure that you are a moral person. What I don't see is what logical connection there is. This is literally a non sequitor. If you are saved by your beliefs alone, then there is no logical connection between salvation and moral actions. And, it can become a dangerous thing for someone to simply believe they have attained salvation "regardless of [their] actions." It's also not a moral position.
I praise GOD for HIS mercy and grace in my life.
Hugs, andrea
GCT - I really just write more in a from the heart, personal journal,style; so I can't say it's aimed at anyone.
Unconditional love does typically brings out the best in others. The fact that God loves me, just as I am - faults, mistakes, sin - exactly as I am - makes me want to be better.
I frequently suffer from foot in mouth and lack of sensitivity. But God seems to always work things out. When I mess up, it helps me to learn and often become closer to others and when I mess up so bad that it seems like there is no way to fix it, then God opens doors for other to work despite what I've done and it all works out okay in the end. Then of course, there's time, patience, and waiting.
As God keeps chipping away at the imperfections in our lives and conforming us to the image of His Son, the process is never easy but always necessary.
Praise the Lord always. Even when things go wrong.
We praise Him not because things have gone wrong; but because He is still in control and will help us out of our situation. If we Trust Him and let Him.
God bless.
I screwed up once. I remember it well: It was back in 1972...
Folks who say they don't mess up daily are apt to lie about other things as well.
It's not our commitment to Jesus that counts, but His commitment to us.
Tracy,
"I really just write more in a from the heart, personal journal,style; so I can't say it's aimed at anyone."
Fair enough. It's just that it seemed like a response to something I posted in an earlier thread just recently on your blog...
"Unconditional love does typically brings out the best in others."
OK, but it's not unconditional, is it, nor does it always bring out the best.
"The fact that God loves me, just as I am - faults, mistakes, sin - exactly as I am - makes me want to be better."
And, if that's truly the case, then good for you. But, that doesn't mean that it necessarily will be the case for everyone, especially since there's no logical tie between god's alleged love and moral behavior on our part.
i'm always messing up and He's always picking me up again and again. have often referred or thought of myself like Pvt. Gomer Pyle in His Army. no harm in thinking like that. who in their right mind would want to be like a general?:)
am just beginning to get an inkling about grace and His love.
btw. thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
Always messing up...mostly in my head where people can't see it. I think the scripture..."The heart is desperately wicked..." (Jer. 17:4 I think?) that scripture rings a major bell with all that cruddy stuff in me that people can't see. Praise God He allows me to see it though.
I'm a believer in election and swing deep into the doctrines of grace. I find it very frustrating that people believe b/c of these beliefs we just live however and it doesn't matter. Grace is amazing and changes you. You realize how desperately wicked you are and how without God you would be nothing and the wrath of God awaits you. The process of sanctification is part of loving because you are so thankful for that grace.
Awesome, Awesome, Awesome, what more can I say? I have a blog that I think will go good with this one it is called "hugyourchild.blogspot.com
It's been a year since your post, but the blessing in it is still so potent. I have been in so much pain and so much guilt about a mess I've made at work. I couldn't get over the fear and I've been struggling with waking up in the morning. I've been escaping the world through sleep. Thank you. I believe that the Holy Spirit was guiding you when you wrote this and I believe that the Holy Spirit was guiding me to read it. Lord, my Loving Father, thank you for accepting me the way I am. Thank you for this daily renewed grace. I love you so much.
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