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This is a REPOST from my friend Kathryn Gironimi. I have reposted some of her blogs before. She writes the truth so eloquently and with such boldness. She has inspired me a ton this year and has played a part is a ton of my growth. These words are powerful, let them sink into your heart…. “Don’t buy the lie that cultivating condemnation and wallowing in your shame is somehow pleasing to God, or that a constant, low-grade guilt will somehow promote holiness and spiritual maturity. It’s just the opposite! God is glorified when we believe with all our hearts that those who trust in Christ can never be condemned. It’s only when we receive his free gift of grace and live in the good of total forgiveness that we’re able to turn from old, sinful ways of living and walk in grace-motivated obedience.” -C.J. Mahaney
“I do not pray enough. I do not love people enough. I do not know enough answers. I do not serve enough. I cannot believe that God is pleased with me. I never know what is right and what is wrong.” David and I sat across from a university student and we listened to her list off statement after statement of what she struggled with in her mind.
Someone who had salvation… and yet she was still trying to work for her salvation. We’ve spent a lot of time in Hungary with university students- mostly Christian students, and we’ve gotten to encourage them and challenge them. One thrust of our conversations is always the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in all believers- not just missionaries or pastors. I think one of the biggest lies that the enemy whispers into the ears of those who follow Christ is that; if their life is not centered around a non-profit organization, foreign missions, or being a prominent member of the church- that they do not walk in as much power or cannot serve God with their lives. I’ve gotten a few emails this year from friends asking me to pray for them or for a situation and they jokingly add the line… “Since you’re a missionary maybe you have a better “in” with the Big Guy…” They say it as a joke, but sometimes, I believe, masked within the humor is a bit of a true feeling- a belief in a lie. On the opposite end, as I’ve traveled with 50 incredible people, living as missionaries, the lies that get whispered are often something like,“You’re a missionary? Well you aren’t a very good one. You do not pray enough, you do not serve enough, you do not love people well enough, you are still too selfish…” Sounds oddly familiar to my university friend. Here is the thing about grace… …we don’t deserve it. That’s why it’s called grace in the first place. All we can do is claim it through the fantastic and genius work of the cross that defeated sin and allowed us to step into being newcreations. I thought it was interesting, as we talked with many university students in Hungary, that the message of grace needed to be told tobelievers almost as much as it needed to be shared with unbelievers. That sin that you are still feeling guilty about and that guilt you allow to keep you from drawing near to the Lord… Stop it. If you are still living in a sin, it is time to repent and leave the guilt and shame behind… Agree or disagree theologically, but I think it’s impossible for God to be disappointed in us. Your life is hidden in Christ, completely covered… hidden means completely that- hidden. Salvation allows God to look at you and see the image of His Son- in whom He cannot be disappointed. You don’t have to take my word for it… “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)” Let that sink in for a minute… there is NO CONDEMNATION for those that are caught up in the love and grace of Christ Jesus. And in case my huge underline and bold was too subtle… the word is “now“… not tomorrow, not when you get your act together, not when you finally figure out how to stop falling victim to the same sins over and over again, not when you feel good enough to be used by God… but there is no condemnation NOW– this very moment, as you read this blog. So stop condemning yourself. If I am allowed for a moment to attach an emotion to the Lord, I think the disappointment that He may feel is when His redeemedcreations, whom he has lavished love on, continue to wallow in their guilt instead of living their lives in their potential He hasfreely offered, walking in obedience because of the grace He has given. Satan isn’t called an accuser for nothing. Fight him. Live in grace. When you understand grace, it doesn’t make you want to abuse it, it makes you want to run toward holiness. There is so much truth in the old hymn, and I think we often forget as we sing… “Twas grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved…” Grace shows you to fear the Lord, and in that, all other fear is eliminated. Awesome. |
