We are going to fail sooner or later in some area. We are human and human nature is imperfect. If we were perfect, then what need would we have of God? So why do we make such fruitless effort over covering up our faults? The bible is filled with messy people. I guarantee you can find any/every sin ever committed.
Paul (formally Saul) massacred Christians (Acts 9).
David killed a man to sleep with his wife (2 Samuel 11).
Samson burned down an entire crop of grain/vineyards etc out of anger (Judges 15).
Jonah ran from God (Jonah 1:3).
Rahab was a prostitute (Joshua 2).
Abraham tried to play God (Genesis 16).
Peter denied Christ in front of a servant girl (Luke 22:56-62).
Noah got drunk and naked after he got back on dry land (Genesis 9:20).
These men and women are described however with words like faithful, righteous, strong and courageous. They were known as men and women after God’s own heart and appear even in the lineage of Jesus (read Hebrews 11). So what does this say about us? More importantly what does this say about our God?
SO in an attempt at vulnerability and to pass along some encouragement, here is a compiled list of just a couple of my weaknesses.
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I am way too proud.
- Ever found yourself running on a treadmill trying to outlast the person running next to you? Who, by the way, is oblivious to what you’re doing? Yeah that’s what we call pride my friends.
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I am usually much more afraid of man than God.
- You want me to do what Lord? No, that can’t be… Too uncomfortable. What will they think of me? Give that to someone else. (This usually ends a minute later in regrets of not stepping out in faith).
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I compare myself.
- There will always be someone smarter, funnier, prettier, in better shape, etc. Does that define me? Or will I be content in Christ’s view of me?
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I say NO.
- I don’t allow myself to just be loved by Jesus. I don’t let myself believe that his love is UNCONDITIONAL regardless of what I do. That He chose ME (Ephesians 1:4) and reconciled himself to ME.
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I am terrified of sharing my faith.
- Any retreat I have gone on where we had time to share our faith, I have literally run away from it to “pray”… yeah ok.
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I am complacent.
- I just spent the last hour looking through pictures on my computer rather than write this. I fall quickly into the mundane when I could be seeking Him.
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I don’t trust Him well.
- Finances? Food? Grades? Friendships? Relationships? Yeah ok Lord, you got that…. But what if you don’t come through like I want?
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I am stubborn.
- I am better on my own. Admitting defeat and asking for help will only show weakness.
So yes, I fall on my face daily. You may relate to a few (gosh I hope so) but the best part is I know that these are the areas that God is going to show up and prove that it is not me, but him, who is almighty and powerful.
God REDEAMS! He makes beautiful things out of dust. No one is out of reach from His touch and His redemptive power. His name will be glorified. He will astonish us with the impossible. Who do you think that you are that God can’t use you? Get over yourself and stop limiting His glory. Let Him show you his faithfulness.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Be honest with where you are at. Bring your sins into the light and let God, in his perfect grace and care, mold you and prune you into the men and women that He created you to be.
PS. I want to hear your questions, comments, etc. Please don’t hesitate to email me with anything!
