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Just For You

Easter-Egg-Hunt-photo

This post has been something that I have wrestled with lately.  It has been on my heart to share, but seemed like a tall order to write.  My goal is to always be prayerful and led of the Spirit in what I say, and this topic felt even more critical to do so.  Todays world looks different than it did 30 years ago.  Somehow black and white areas have become gray, and no longer are there real “definitions” of anything.  From politics to religion, everything seems to be up for debate.  Somewhere along the line, we as a people have veered from the course we were on.  And it didn’t happen overnight.  So often, seemingly small and insignificant steps are the ones that have the biggest repercussions.  And one day, you wake up not knowing where you are or how you got there.

Sin is not a popular topic to discuss.  But if we are honest, it is something that we have all struggled with.  From the beginning of time, we see that sins main job is to separate us from God.  It steals the fellowship and intimacy that we were created to enjoy with our maker.  However, if there aren’t clear definitions of what sin actually is, then we are left helpless and unable to change.  Just like a child with no rules or consequences for their actions, we as adults become reckless and our judgement is clouded when we don’t distinguish right from wrong.  The purpose of the law (both in the spiritual world and in the government) is to give us a concise aim and purpose.  It not only shows us what not to do, but it gives us a higher target to reach for.  It positions us to aim for something greater than ourselves.  Because when we, as flawed human beings, try to define morality and ethics, we will always get it wrong.  The Bible tells us that our flesh will always go against the Word of God.  And if we don’t take the time to find out what God says about the subject, we will totally miss the mark.

Thankfully, by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can overcome….because Christ overcame.  When Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave, He defeated our sin.  The spotless lamb became our sacrifice, paying a debt that we could not afford.  He lifted the burden of having to work for our salvation and He tore the veil that separated God from man.  We are now able to freely approach Him.  The grace that He lavishes on us is not an excuse to remain in our sin, but it is His ability in us to do better.  In our weakness He is strong.  And whether our struggle is fear or anger, or a million other things, His spirit can empower us to change.  All we have to do is ask.  When we acknowledge our sin and our need for a Savior, we make room in our hearts for Him.  Then and only then, can we be transformed into His image.  Because that is what the world needs.  It doesn’t need to see me or my mess, it needs a clear picture of who Christ is and the price He paid for us.  Knowing the love of a Father who will never leave us or forsake us.  A Father who, had it just been for you, would have still went to the cross.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”                                          Hebrews 12:1-2