We don’t want to misrepresent grace as an excuse to sin.
Imperfect Women Living for Christ Part 2
Click here for Part 1
Last time we took a minute to see that it isn’t possible to live a perfect life, and perfection in the Christian life isn’t an expectation that is from God, but rather from the world. Don’t miss Part 1 (Click here.)
Tongue Battles
Knowing this of God’s Word is truth, there’s no surprise to realize my own home -and your home- battles the unruly tongues which are attached to each of one us. Thankfully, my guys are all sensitive and quick with a repentant apology, and we are learning to live in brokenness with forgiveness as the Lord teaches us through His Word. We strive to show one another more grace and then some more, but we do so without skirting or embracing the sinful habits that so easily beset us.
Grace isn’t an excuse to sin!
It isn’t easy confronting the sin we struggle with in our own lives and homes, but it’s necessary. Going on in our sin is unacceptable to the Lord, no matter how many times we enjoy His grace over our sin (and thank, God, for it!). However, we don’t want to misrepresent grace as an excuse to sin.
Prepare your heart
Perfection won’t come, but striving to walk with in the Spirit of the Lord (whereby manifesting the fruit of the Spirit in our lives: Gal 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.) does require us to intentionally walk with no known sin. No need to wait for bedtime prayers for confession and repentance of sin in our lives when it’s made known to us in our day. Right then meet with the Lord, ask for forgiveness and turn back to Him. To keep walking with known sin requires walking alone, because there is no darkness in Christ and no fellowship in sin.
I John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
The Battles Rage
Evil doesn’t usually announce its coming. When my oldest played baseball, his size and reputation gave clear expectation of the trouble walking up to the plate. If the pitcher tried to go out on his own, more often than not he lost big. No-one wants a homer hit off of their pitch (especially with runners on base) and we watched plenty of balls go out of the park in a hurry off our son’s bat. Know what also we watched? Many times he didn’t even get a chance to cause harm, because those who knew of his presence often times didn’t take chances and put him right on base. That’s not how the devil’s schemes play out, usually we don’t see him coming, but if we’re aware of his presence, and we are ready for him, we can use what the Lord offers us to put him straight on base.
Hope in Christ. Prepare for the battles to come!
Psalm 31:24
Be strong and courageous, all you who hope in the LORD.
Eph 6:10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
