Let's Stop The Hammering!

If you are, like me, a sinner saved by grace and now enjoying the wonderful mercy that has been granted to you, you probably feel that at times you are not up to the holiness that the Lord would want from you. He did say, “Be ye Holy as I am Holy!” didn't He? (1 Corinthians 3:16) As we are going to this journey together, let's see some of the mindset that are hurtful to us, others, and grieving the Holy Father living now in us.

Are you one prone to judge and criticize, one that opens his/her mouth without thinking and says words that are often regretted, one that lack compassion for others, one that is prideful, one that is envious of others, one that doesn't take counsels, one that slanders, one that has impure thoughts, one that is malicious, one that is unforgiving, one that harbors bitterness and hatred against others etc... We can go on and on. Romans 1:18-32, 2 Timothy 3:1-9, and Colossians 3:5-14 list what we used to walk in before our calling. But Glory to God! Hallelujah! We are not to continue in sin because God's seed remain in us, we are born of him, and we live in him (1 John 3:6).

If you have some unresolved issue at this stage in your life, don't loose hope! The father who knew you before the beginning of the world chose you to be in Him. You are loved and accepted in the Beloved. The Holy Father sees the glorious future you have in Him and is pleased to call you son or daughter. Remember that the keys of the kingdom of heaven have been given to Peter despite his rejection of Jesus during His trial times. Paul was made an apostle to the gentiles and trusted with the writings of most of the New Testament books despite his persecutions of the early believers. David, one of the fathers of faith, was called a man after God's heart despite his adulterous affair and murder of one under his authority. These are just a few examples. What can't the Father do in us, for us, and through us if we submit ourselves totally to Him. Don't you think that the Lord can change you from glory to glory according to His good purpose?

Now what should we do when we stumble? Do we have the liberty to sin carelessly. No! The word of God says in 1 John 3: 6, 9 and 1 John 5: 18 that anyone born of God living in Him can't continue to sin. When I find myself harboring my old ways, guess what I do? Since the Holy Father always convicts me, I use all the liberty I have to go to the throne of grace. I go to my big brother who was tempted in everything but never sinned in order to receive grace and mercy in my time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16).

You may be asking: Why should I keep myself from sin? How should I keep myself from sin? Let's first answer the first question, why should I keep myself from sinning? First, It is important that we keep ourselves undefiled because we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that should show forth the praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). Second, the branches attached to the root that is holy must be holy (Romans 11:16). Third, We are the temple of the living God (1 Cor 3:16-17). At last, our Holy Father requests that we be holy (1 Peter 1:16).

Now let's go to the second question, how should I keep myself from sinning? There are various other scriptures that could be used, but I found the book of Colossians very helpful to me when I fall short. First, I continue to live in Christ, rooted and built up in Him and strengthened in the faith (Colossians 2:6). Second, I go back to scriptures that have taught me in the past to be renewed in knowledge in the image of my creator (Colossians 3:10). Third, as God's chosen child, holy and dearly loved, I ask him for a new fresh infilling of His Spirit of mercy and grace to put on love that binds together in perfect unity the fruit of the spirit. His mercy is new every morning (Colossians 3:12-14; Galatians 5:22-26; 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13). Fourth, I try one step at a time, one day at a time, to obey His commands in order that His love may be in me, that I stay in His love, so that His love may be complete in me (John 15:10; 17:26; 1 John 4:12). At last, with the Father's love in me I am learning to be able to love everyone deeply, including myself, from the heart (1 Peter 1:22).

We are the light of the world, the salt of the earth. Let's not give the enemy the privilege to see us stumble. Isn't that great to be able to represent the Holy Father in spirit and in truth, with purity and let Him manifest through us His great power and love for others. Isn't it great to be His mouth, His hands, His feet, His heart of love, and His eyes of compassion. Isn't it great to have His mind as we trust and follow Him. Not only we are to show forth the praises of Him who has called us by our testimonies, but we are to let him do great works through us for the sake of the unsaved in this dark world. After all, we were created by Him and sanctified by Him for Him, and His desire is for us to have a righteous and holy walk before him (1 Corinthians 1:2). As the days go darker and darker, let us be brighter and brighter. Are you up to it!

Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and obey it! (Luke 11:28)

Marie Monaus