Tuesday, December 2, 2008

"Do Over!"


“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Romans 3:23

Recently I have been thinking about how many believers allow themselves to be tormented by feelings of guilt and condemnation when they sin and fall short of our God’s glorious standard. They get so down on their selves when they realize that they are still susceptible to sin. We must remember that we are going to make mistakes as long as we are here in these sinful bodies living in this world full of sin and temptation.

Satan and his demonic forces are determined to keep us bogged down under feelings of condemnation and guilt when we sin. These forces immediately try to attack our minds with negatives thoughts like..

“Do you think God is really going to keep forgiving you when you’re always messing up.”

“Real Christians would never say or do that. You’re not a real Christian.”

“See you’re not good enough, smart enough, or know enough for God to use you. You can’t even stop sinning.”

I seriously doubt that I am the only one that enemy attacks with thoughts like the ones above. I know this because the Word of God says that Satan is the accuser of the brethren. (Revelation 12:10) These accusing thoughts and words are straight from the pits of hell. The Accuser wants us to have a “woe is me” attitude and give up. He knows that if we are busy beating ourselves up, feeling guilty, condemned, and unworthy we will not want to enter God’s presence to receive His forgiveness, mercy, and grace when we need it most. We will be bound by these emotions, unable to be used by our Lord.

Instead of sitting and meditating on our mistakes and our shortcomings we need to remember what 1 John 2: 1-2 says.

“My little children, I am telling you this so that you will stay away from sin. But if you sin, there is someone to plead for you before the Father. His name is Jesus Christ, the one who is all that is good and who pleases God completely.”

You see our Heavenly Father knows that we are not perfect and that we will sin, so He has given us Jesus Christ to be our Advocate. So we can go boldly before the throne to ask forgiveness and healing. Our joy and peace will be restored because we know that all is well between us and our God.

I remember when we were kids we used to love playing kickball. For those of you that don’t know kickball, it is a mixture of baseball and dodge ball, only the ball is much bigger and softer and you kick the ball. When the pitcher rolls the ball if you miss it or kicked a foul everyone would yell “BALL!” or “FOUL!”, “DO OVER!” You then were given another try, a ‘Do Over’ to kick the ball as far as you could.

That is how it is when we fall short of God’s glorious standard and sin. As followers of Christ Jesus we are trying to live each day pleasing to God, avoiding sin, but sometimes we just miss it and mess up. But if we confess our sin and repent He is faithful to let us try again. So rebuke those negative thoughts and reject that “woe is me” attitude and remember that our Advocate, Jesus Christ gives us ‘Do Overs’. Thank God for that!



p.s.
I suggest also reading Don't Let Sin Control You

5 comments:

Connie Arnold said...

Thank you for sharing this encouraging post! Try as we might to do right, we so often mess up, and what a blessing it is to have Jesus as our Advocate!

My name is Bonnie, said...

Great post! In fact, I love the subjects you touched on in your last three posts!

I had to laugh as I was reminded of kick ball! I used to love that game!

Bonnie
extendedhope.com

Lisa C. aka Trophy of Grace said...

Thank you both for your comments. I am glad that you have been encouraged by reading Consecrated To Him. God bless you sisters..

krissy knox said...

Just found your blog.

This post reminds me of the verse: "There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." I just love this verse, and it so encourages me.

I was at one time so burdened thinking that I couldn't be forgiven and wouldn't make it to heaven, or that even if I did make it, I was just one poor Christian. But that is not what the Bible states, and that is not why the Lord came and lived His life for us, and not why He died to save us. He came and He died on the cross, so we could have abundant life here on earth, and so that when we died, we could live with Him in Heaven forever.

While the Lord assures us "There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," He also stated in Scripture "Be perfect, as your Father in Heaven is perfect."

Jesus, by His life, death, and resurrection opened the door for us, so that we were able to receive Him within, receiving the Holy Spirit, and thus being able to forsake sin. You see, God does want us to try to live consecrated, holy lives -- lives in which we forsake sin and grow into the image of Christ. There are many places in the Bible that state this, none more clearly, perhaps, than "Be holy as your Father in Heaven is Holy."

To be able to grow in holiness, we must yield to the Holy Spirit, doing all that He shows us. And there are many ways to learn from Him: reading the Bible, doing devotions (spiritual reading and prayer), going to church, following the Lord's commands, etc.

If you will take part in such activities, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, you will begin to grow in grace and holiness.

And the Lord will often be very gentle with you as He changes you. For He says "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." So do not be afraid to follow Him! As you obey and repent, taking seriously His command to try to be perfect, He will help you and gently lead you...

And in so doing, you will find there IS no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

So be free women of God! Go on your way praising the God who makes us free!

Praise the God who will not condemn you! Yes you must continue to repent when you sin, and yes you must take the Lord seriously, but as you find yourself in need of forgiveness, know He is waiting there for you, and will forgive you, just as He asks you to forgive 70 times 7! Will He not do the same for you, since He is asking you to forgive others? He will forgive you as long as you ask. For He paid a great price for you! Why would He want to lose you now?

Run to Him again and again! He loves you so! He will not leave you nor forsake you!

Let us praise Him who died for us, and loves us! Let us say with Paul "There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!"

Let us believe it with our whole heart, and act accordingly, because it will set us free. And in being set free, we will have such a testimony for the Lord. For he deserves it, does he not? So that others will be drawn to Him? And don't we deserve it to? To be guilt free?

Now be at peace, sisters!... You are a daughter of the Most High God, sanctified and justified in Him! :)

krissy knox :)
http://sometimesithink-krissy.blogspot.com

Lisa C. aka Trophy of Grace said...

Amen!!! Thank you Krissy for your excellent comments!! Amen again and thank you Jesus!

I am glad that you helped expand on this subject. It is most certainly the Holy Spirit who has lead you to say these things.

May our Lord bring all who He would have read this to be encouraged and edified. In Jesus name..

My God is Faithful!

My God is Faithful!
Psalm 40:1-3 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.He lifted me out of the slimy pit,out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.