Freedom comes from God - Who's power works best in weakness.
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Each time He said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Recently I have been struggling with imperfection. I find myself trying to do things perfectly and right all the time. I try my best not to sin but then I find myself falling into that sin and then I get angry with myself. For every decision I make, I want it to be right and according to God's Word, so that I please Him, but by doing this I realise that sometimes as much as I want to do good, I don't, and then it feels like I am not pleasing God. This is an easy trap to fall into because the more you read God's Word, the more you want to please Him and serve Him (which is wonderful), but then you can start chasing after perfection which is a place we can never reach while living on Earth and is, therefore, a never-ending cycle and trap.
As I discovered this, the Holy Spirit reminded me of Romans 7:14-24
So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin.
Paul continues to explain that...
I have discovered this principle of life - that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.
There is a sinful nature, or in other words the flesh, that is at constant war with our minds that tries to keep us from doing good, from obeying God's Word, from seeking Him, and from living through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is clear that no matter how hard we try to do good, we will always fall short of perfection. And we know that even if we don't want to sin, but we still do it anyway, it is not us doing wrong but the flesh, or sinful nature in us, doing it.
We can now celebrate because of the Good News that we have been given! For who will free me from this chained life bound by sin and death? Jesus Christ - for He purchased our freedom through His crucifixion, He broke the chains of sin and death, and He rose again through the life-giving Spirit that resurrected Him which now lives in us and seals us as His very own. Thank You Lord!
So because we have the Holy Spirit living within us, we know that as much as we do wrong we are saved and given freedom and life in Christ. This gives me so much peace and strength because I know that God's grace is sufficient for it excuses my sinful nature and allows me to live freely through His Spirit.
It is also important to know that, although we are saved by God's grace, we should not continue to purposefully sin, when we know it is wrong, because sin is a stronghold and that stronghold can deceive, manipulate and lead us away from knowing God and living in righteousness with Him.
So from this do I try and avoid sinning? No, because we still have a sinful nature, we are living in a wicked world and the enemy will try his best to keep us from knowing God. There is no way to escape sin, but we do have Jesus and the more we get to know Him, the easier it is to escape temptation and avoid sinning. We have the Holy Spirit which reminds us of the gift of everlasting life of knowing Jesus and being filled and led by His love. How beautiful and edifying is our Lord Jesus?!
Through Jesus Christ, we are given a confident hope that through all imperfection we are saved and free. God saw that, by just following His Law, we could never reach perfection and true righteousness with Him because the flesh is weak and doomed. But that is why Jesus came to die for ALL sinners and save us from death because only through Him can we find righteousness with God and can His love truly be revealed. We are sinners saved by grace through faith (Romans 3:23), so it is not the good or bad we do that pleases God, but rather it is our faith in Jesus that makes Him already pleased. Our faith is expressed through our love for God and our neighbours - this love is relational with Him and therefore our salvation cannot be based on good works for we are all sinners.
For by that one offering He forever made perfect those who are being made holy. Hebrews 10:14
It is a life-journey of seeking His will over ours, of seeking His face through our trials, and of allowing our weakness to let His power work through. When we are weak and feel we are not pleasing God, we are made strong because Jesus has already brought us into righteousness with God where He does not look at our sin but rather at our hearts - which need to be guarded by His love. From our hearts flow the fruit of the Holy Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal, 5:22), all of which our lives should bear to reveal to the world of the King we serve, Who lovingly saves! Amen. Jesus is found perfect through all weakness and strength and through Him we are forever made perfect, while we are being shaped holy today! How great is our God!
For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22
Weakness is something to boast about because Jesus saves there - He is present in surrender, in hardships, in confusions and in imperfection. Imperfection finds humility because through humility we can surrender to God. We need to trust Him. We need to allow Him to work in us. It is such a gift to know that there is no worry in imperfection because as long as my heart is found in Jesus, His face shines through - and what a powerful and loving Face that is! Jesus calls us to Him - He sees we are weary, broken and in desperate need of saving. He wants to set us free! Rest in Him.
Thank You Lord for Your grace that has allowed me to embrace my weakness and let Your power work through. Thank You Jesus for showing me that I am enough whether I am weak or strong because You are enough and You are there with me through it all! May You help me put to death the sinful nature which tries to separate me from You and may You remind me of Your love which keeps me close to Your heart. I love You Lord and may Your love fill my heart and may it shine through me always. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
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