It is often believed that once you're saved, you're free from temptation. That has to be the biggest misconception ever. When you surrender your life to Christ, things will not be all sun-shines & rainbows. Satan is going to try to do whatever he can to get you back on his team.
So, what happens when you've been living for Christ strong, and then all of a sudden your weakness is thrown at you? You know that one ex-boyfriend that used to push you closer to sin is now blowing up your phone. Or, that one friend that you used to smoke and party with is now all of a sudden wanting to hang out again. You give in to that temptation & you do what you once told God that you would never do again. Now, you're feeling convicted. You're broken & the enemy is telling you that there's no way that God will forgive you now!
One of the greatest examples of forgiveness after a fall is David. David was highly favored in the Lord's eyes. He was called a man after God's own heart. One day, he slipped up & had relations with another man's wife. She then became pregnant. Once he found this out, he secretly plotted to have her husband killed! Crazy right?!? The Bible tells us in 2 Samuel 11:27 that God was not pleased with David at all, but was willing to give him another chance.
David confessed his sins after being rebuked by a friend. Soon after, God forgave David, but he had to face some consequences. God could've killed David, but instead He offered David His grace.
David was a man after God's heart, but he was a man. In his pursuit of God, he made a detour because of his flesh. You may be like David. You want God & you desire to follow Him, but you have made a detour. You've made a mistake & now you're facing the consequences. There is hope for you. Know that God understands that we are nothing but mere mortals. He knew that we were going to make mistakes, but He still wanted to be in an intimate relationship with us. So much that He allowed His only son to be killed so that we could be reconciled with Him.
Like David did in Psalm 51, find a place & cry out to God for change. He is waiting for you with open arms! God wants to be close to you no matter the amount of sin you have committed. He just wants you to be willing to change your mind & repent. Don't believe all of those stupid lies that the enemy whispers in your ears. You are still loved by God! God still desires to be close to you! You can start over & receive grace!
God doesn't want you to just sit in your guilt. He wants you to reconnect with Him. Listen, there were many times when I lost my way & felt that God didn't want anything to do with me. I kept going to church & I kept reading His word. Through that, I was reassured that He still loved me! I cried out to Him & made a choice to never go back. Those things & people that I once loved was not worth missing Jesus. Just like He forgave me, He wants to do the same for you. There's no pit too deep for Him. If you call out with a sincere heart, He will pull you up, dust you off & give you a new name. God is waiting to hear your cry. Will you receive your forgiveness today?
So, what happens when you've been living for Christ strong, and then all of a sudden your weakness is thrown at you? You know that one ex-boyfriend that used to push you closer to sin is now blowing up your phone. Or, that one friend that you used to smoke and party with is now all of a sudden wanting to hang out again. You give in to that temptation & you do what you once told God that you would never do again. Now, you're feeling convicted. You're broken & the enemy is telling you that there's no way that God will forgive you now!
Let me just remind you that the devil is a liar!
David confessed his sins after being rebuked by a friend. Soon after, God forgave David, but he had to face some consequences. God could've killed David, but instead He offered David His grace.
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10)
David was a man after God's heart, but he was a man. In his pursuit of God, he made a detour because of his flesh. You may be like David. You want God & you desire to follow Him, but you have made a detour. You've made a mistake & now you're facing the consequences. There is hope for you. Know that God understands that we are nothing but mere mortals. He knew that we were going to make mistakes, but He still wanted to be in an intimate relationship with us. So much that He allowed His only son to be killed so that we could be reconciled with Him.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
God doesn't want you to just sit in your guilt. He wants you to reconnect with Him. Listen, there were many times when I lost my way & felt that God didn't want anything to do with me. I kept going to church & I kept reading His word. Through that, I was reassured that He still loved me! I cried out to Him & made a choice to never go back. Those things & people that I once loved was not worth missing Jesus. Just like He forgave me, He wants to do the same for you. There's no pit too deep for Him. If you call out with a sincere heart, He will pull you up, dust you off & give you a new name. God is waiting to hear your cry. Will you receive your forgiveness today?
"The Lord is not slow in
keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient
with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to
repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)
No comments:
Post a Comment