Losing the Way? There is NO Condemnation!
From top to bottom, our society is success oriented, however one may define that in terms of one’s own goals. Christians are not immune. ‘Everything comes out okay for Christians!’ ‘The King’s kids are always winners’ are misleading slogans to live by. We develop unrealistic expectations of the Christian Life and of ourselves ~ and then, when our wings get broken, we think failure ends our usefulness.
For those of us who know too well the salt taste of failure, it helps to remember than even the great ones of the faith failed, yet God continued to see them …. often in a deeper way after their fall.
Some of David’s greatest psalms came after his greatest mistakes. God called him ‘a man after his own heart’ (1 Samuel: 13:14). Abraham lied, perhaps to save his skin ~ yet he is the towering example of faith for three major religions and is called ‘God’s friend’ (James 2:23).
It is those who have experienced the depths of failure to whom God invariably gives the call to shepherd others. This is not a call given only to the gifted, the highly trained, or the polished as such. Without a bitter experience of their own inadequacy and poverty, they are generally unfit to bear the burden of spiritual ministry. It takes a person who has discovered something of the measure of his own weakness to be patient with others.
Too often, we live in a quid-pro-quo relationship with God. ‘I have been faithful to you, I have worked hard, so please give me this or that.’ Or, ‘I have failed again~ I can’t expect any blessings.’ We forget that the whole of our life is GRACE.
Too many sincere Christians, facing their failures, look down on themselves unmercifully and keep asking God for forgiveness.
Each of us should memorise this verse!
THERE IS NOW NO (repeat No) CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS’ (Romans 8:1)
Not only does He not condemn us ~ He even brings blessings from the ashes of our failures.
What a Mighty God we Serve!!! Hallelujah!
Debra, I try to say it everyday, I get stuck in that place and I have to repeat it.
What a powerful post, Debra…..one to remember. We get so wrapped up and let down by our failures, that we can’t see clearly ahead of us.
This is something I am constantly looking to remind myself. thank you Debra!