Do you ever beat yourself up? No, I don't mean do ever throw a punch at yourself, that would not be cool, but what I mean is, are you ever negative toward yourself? Maybe you feel like you can never do anything right or maybe you're constantly doubting your abilities. Maybe you simply just don't like who you are.
I've been there.
I think everyone has been there at some point in their lives.
Where negativity looms and doubt fills in- that's the place where Satan likes to creep in. He fills the spaces of our vulnerabilities with lies that only make ourselves question our existence and purpose.
It's not a good valley to be in.
So today in Sunday School, we were reading 1 Timothy and this passage (1 Timothy 12:16) stood out to me...
"I thank Christ
Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy,
appointing me to his service. Even though I was
once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because
I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our
Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in
Christ Jesus.
Here is a
trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the
world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very
reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might
display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him
and receive eternal life."
Here the apostle Paul is writing to Timothy to instruct him in church leadership. Notice that Paul calls himself "the worst sinner".
Talk about beating yourself up! I'm sure he didn't know every single person along with every single sin committed, but he really believed he was the worst.
Guess what?
Although he committed many evil sins, including killing Christians, God still used him.
Instead of listening to Satan and all the lies he had up his sleeve,
Paul chose to listen to God and His call on his life.
For someone to believe he was the worst of sinners and was later transformed into one of God's most faithful servant, proves that God can use anyone for His glory.
In order to live out God's call in our lives, we must find our identity in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the
righteousness of God."
In the sermon, he broke it down into parts and here are my notes:
"God made him who had no sin,,,
-Jesus was sinless, yet tempted in every way just like you and me.
-God isn't surprised when we sin. That's why He sent Jesus.
-Jesus was the "friend of sinners". Sin didn't keep Jesus from loving the sinner.
to be sin for us...
-All other religions are about what people must "do" to get to heaven, but Christianity says it's already "done". Eternal life is a gift through grace by faith.
-When Jesus died on the cross, He said "It is finished". He was the ransom for our sin.
so that in Him...
-John 14:6, "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through me."
-Jesus creates the way for us to spend eternity in Heaven.
We might become the righteousness of God."
- We gain forgiveness of sins, even though we do not deserve it, but it is because God loves us.
-God views us through Jesus.
With that being said, we need to find our identity in Christ.
It is because of what Jesus has done for us that we shouldn't beat ourselves up.
Beating ourselves up over our sins and letting Satan's lies penetrate our lives can be offensive to what Jesus died for us.
He didn't die for us to bury our head in our pillow everytime we mess up, but He died so that we would be able to pick ourselves up after we mess up and seek God's help to live the way He wants us to live without the dark cloud of guilt hovering over us.
Find your identity in Jesus Christ. Let Him be the center.
I have so much I want to write about it! Don't worry though, I'll try and limit myself. I don't want to bore you with a novel, but sheesh, there's so much to write about!
So I've been reading a lot the past 2 days (because I haven't felt like doing anything else). These are the 3 things I've read: my Bible, "His Princess: Love Letters from Your King," and "Sincerely, Jesus". Man, God has given me some good stuff to read, let me tell you. "Sincerely, Jesus" is by Edward Goble (I got it free on my Nook!) and it is about the letters that Jesus wrote to the seven churches listed in the book of Revelation. Although the letters were addressed to these seven groups, Goble explains how Jesus is talking to us, too. It's a short read, filled with historical information and tons of Jesus' promises for us that relates to our daily lives. I'm so glad I found it and look forward to reading it again. "His Princess: Love Letters from Your King" is by Sheri Rose Shepherd and is a devotional book that is in the form of letters from God. It is beautifully written for any age. So many times I finish reading a chapter/devotion in tears. Lastly, today's reading for the year long reading plan was chapters 7-8 in the book of Matthew. Out of these 3 books, God has filled my head with so much to write about! I decided to write about the reoccuring theme of the 3 books...choosing the right path.
I don't know about you, but I'm not real good at making decisions. I don't know if it's because I doubt my discernment or I just don't like making decisions. I've realized though lately that as long as I'm focusing on God, His will for me, and obeying Him; I can't go wrong. Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes through the father except me" (John 14:6).
Matthew 7:13-14 says, "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." So you may be wondering, "What's all this gate talk about? I haven't went through a gate." Well, if we look at John 14:6 again, we know that Jesus is life, therefore, to go through the "narrow gate", all we have to do is believe and follow him. The wide gate is what the rest of the world goes through. If you want life, you want Jesus. Simple as that. But you may be thinking, well I'm living and I don't need Jesus. The truth is, when we don't have Jesus we don't experience what true life is and we definitely don't get to experience eternal life. Basically, if you want destruction (which I don't see why), go through the wide gate. Do what everyone else is doing. I know it may be the easy thing to do, but is it really worth it? If you want life (sounds so much better than destruction), go through the narrow gate - Jesus.
Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by
the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's
will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." When we are walking on the narrow way, following Jesus, we are able to figure out what God's will is for us. Decision making becomes less complicated. It will still be hard at times, since we are competing with the world and our fleshly desires so we must choose Jesus' path everyday. Like I've talked about before, it becomes easier when we use our faith in the reward God has promised us. Goble says in "Sincerely, Jesus", "Sometimes the footing is tricky because there is an enemy lurking in the shadows who will do anything to get you off the path." Satan wants us to do the things that everyone else is doing, so he is going to work his butt off to tempt us, but keep in mind when we follow Jesus' path, we recieve life. All Satan can offer us is destruction, but Jesus offers us eternal life. That should be a pretty easy decision right there...who are you going to choose? Do you want destruction or life?
Let Jesus be your way...your truth...and your life. When our faith is in Him, choosing which path to take becomes simple. Proverbs 4:26-27 says, "Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil." Goble says, "When we repent and place Jesus in the central place of honor and love in our heart, He will be our strength and energy for life. (p. 51)" When we start to slip off the narrow path (and it will happen, but don't freak out!), all we have to do is refocus our eyes on the "way" (Jesus). Choose the narrow gate. Choose the narrow path. Choose life. Choose Jesus. It's worth it.
Today is the day that we choose a new bible verse to memorize, mine is Romans 12:2. Let me know what verse you are memorizing by leaving me a comment!
Also, are you joining the read-your-bible-in-a-year plan? Please let me know if you are! Today is Matthew, chapters 7 & 8.
