First things first…

It would be so simple if we could just resolve ourselves to stop doing something and be done with it. But it does not always happen that way. Old habits can sometimes die hard, even when we know those habits are bad for us. There is always something that lies under the behavior, an attitude or desire that gives rise to the behavior itself. Unless that is dealt with, the behavior will not change. So in reality, to gain any ground in this or any other spiritual area, we must be clear about what we’re dealing with. This purity issue is fundamentally a heart issue. Before even ever get to the point of acting on our desires they are born in our hearts. We will not be successful in changing those outward actions until we change the inward desires that give rise to them. We must deal with our hearts.

What is the heart? The heart (or mind – they can both be used for this definition) is the seat of our emotions, desires, thoughts, ambitions, beliefs…the heart is the very essence of who we are. So when we are talking about our hearts as the word is used in the Bible we are not talking merely about feeling – we are talking about everything that makes up that intangible part of ourselves. This is the target of sanctification, the place of where transformation takes place. God wants to transform our hearts. He wants to change the way we think about things, the motives behind our actions, the things we strive for.

What we are talking about here is sanctification, which is becoming more like Christ. That is the purpose and goal of our Christian lives, to be conformed to the image of Christ. To pursue Him; His Kingdom; His righteousness; His rule and reign in our lives. This is our purpose as a Christian. This is a high and lofty goal that will take our entire lives – and even then, if will not be fully realized until we see our Lord face to face. We are to spend ourselves on the pursuit of Christlikeness.

But before we get to that, I want to take one step back and start with first things first. So let us take a moment and consider the Gospel. This is the key to it all – even the most mature Christian needs to hear the Gospel daily. All sin is rebellion against God, a rejection of His rule in our lives. This rebellion makes us objects of His wrath, for as we read in Romans 3, all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. In respect to our position before a perfectly holy God, the slightest infraction is cause for judgment and punishment. A favorite line I hear from many a pastor is that God does not grade on a curve. James 2:10 says that if you keep the whole law and yet falter on one point, you are guilty of the whole law. There is no wiggle room. God’s standard is absolute perfection, and none of us can boast this achievement. It is an impossibility in human terms.

Enter our Lord Jesus Christ, who came to earth and lived as we live. He was tempted in every way, and yet was without sin. After fulfilling the law of His Father perfectly, He gave Himself as a sacrifice for our sinfulness, the atonement for our rebellion, to satisfy the wrath of the Father against our sin. And what does that mean, practically, for you and me? It means that our sin has been forgiven; we have been saved from the wrath of God against sin because Jesus stood in our place.

Sexual sin is one of those sins for which Jesus died. If you belong to Him, you are forgiven of this sin. It is no different from any other sin for which Christ died – He died to make atonement for that sin and to set you free from the power of that sin.

So, the first step on the path toward purity is to recognize that we have forgiveness in Christ – that we are new creatures in Him. Psalm 103 says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” How far is the east from the west? Can you fathom the distance? The point of this verse is that God no longer remembers our sin when we come to Him and trust in the Lord Jesus. Romans 5 tells us that we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; Romans 8 says that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. We are reconciled to God, adopted as His children, our sins atoned for and forgiven. They are gone, washed away in the blood of the Lamb.

The second the step is just as important as the first. Romans 6:6 says that in Christ, we are no longer slaves to sin. We are free from the power of sin, and are now free to be obedient to the Lord. How is this possible? Because the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in us. Take a moment and think about that…think about the power that was exerted to raise Jesus from the dead. Can you? That is the power that lives in us who believe – the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead! How much more can He help us in our weaknesses and temptations! They are nothing to Him compared to the immensity of His power!

It is so important that we understand this – we have the power to overcome this sin. We have the power within to say no even when our flesh wants to say yes. We have the power of the Holy Spirit. This is the mystery; Christ in us the hope of glory! And because of all of this – His perfect life, His atoning death, His resurrection, and His indwelling presence – we are no longer slaves to sin. Praise God!

Can we take some time to glory in the cross? To praise the Lord for His love, His mercy, His grace, His power? To stand in awe of our great and awesome God? It is more than we can take in, if we allow ourselves to dwell on it. Let us saturate ourselves in this grace…it is the only way forward.

More later…

Grace and peace…

A new direction and a tough subject…

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God… 

The topic I am going to broach right now can make some a little squeamish. And I will admit, I didn’t want to write about this. I have fought it for a few weeks, which explains why I have written next to nothing in that time. But I cannot get away from it. And every time I try, the Lord brings it back to my mind.

 The most recent reminder was a visit from my parents. They brought with them some of my things that were still in their garage from when I lived in Champaign six years ago. Most of those things were books (too many books!), but I found a lot of my old writing in those boxes as well. I came across a presentation I had written about this topic for a conference I helped organize back in 2003. The theme of the conference was “Pure Passion”, and it was a conference for single Christian women seeking to live holy lives before the Lord. My topic: sexual purity. And as I read my presentation notes, I was amazed by it. I didn’t realize I knew that much! And, unfortunately, I seemed to have forgotten much of it in the ensuing years.

So, I think my main reason for hesitating in writing on this subject is because it is so personal to me. I am not writing this from a place of perfection – no purity pedestal for me. I live with the scars of sexual sin. Both before and after Christ, I have fallen into the trap of sexual sin, and have lived with the painful consequences of those decisions. So, in writing about this, I am opening a window to a very private part of my heart. I cannot speak as a casual observer; I must tap into the pain of my own life to share with you. But I feel so strongly that the Lord is calling me to do it, because I have a feeling I am not alone in this…

There are many out there who can be considered “the walking wounded”. We have bought the enemy’s counterfeit for intimacy and have paid the price. We are saturated with this lie and assaulted on every front. Our culture is obsessed with it; and even in the church there are multiple casualties of war. The battle for purity is a daily battle, one that must be fought with the power of the Spirit and the truth of the Word.

It is so deeply embedded in my heart that I must speak on this that I will take the risk of sharing my heart in this most intimate way. No fear – I will not share details, but I will be candid with you about my struggles. But I will also be candid about the truth of the Gospel, the beauty of grace, the renewing power of the Holy Spirit, the cleansing of the blood…the glory of God shining through and making beauty out of the ashes in my life.

With God all things are possible – spiritual purity in this area can be regained. God can renew and renovate. I have seen Him do so in my own life, and He continues to do so daily. As I seek to think His thoughts after Him, and renew my mind with His Word, He will continually renew and refine. This is the blessed hope; this is the power of the Gospel. So more than anything, as I speak on these things, this beautiful truth shall be in view.

So with that said…more later…(smile)

Grace and peace…

My Blog…reloaded…

I think I took the lessons I was learning from Proverbs about silence to an extreme there for a while…or perhaps it was a necessary corrective from the Lord. But my mouth – and my computer keyboard – have been shut for a while now. Some may be quite happy about that…*sly grin*. But, I think I’m coming out of this season of silence, and prayerfully, better than I went into it.

I think what has kept my mouth shut for a while is that the direction I feel the Lord taking me made me nervous for a while. I feel so inadequate, and quite humbled by the things He has placed on my heart. But, the Lord has not given us a spirit of fear…

Soooo…I’m baaaack! )

More later…

Grace and peace…

More silence…

I’m still being confronted with the subject of words and speech. This morning I read the following proverb:

Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding… (Prov. 14:33b) 

Here’s the trend I’m seeing as I read through the book of Proverbs this time around: Wisdom doesn’t say much. It doesn’t have to be heard. And when wisdom does speak, its words reflect the truth and character of the Lord.

Foolishness seems to always have something to say – and speaks much of the time before thinking.

Trusting in the Lord encourages silence. When you trust the Lord, you know He is in control. You don’t need to manipulate circumstances to achieve your own ends because you know that the Lord will provide what You need. You know His ways are infintely better than your own, and therefore you accept His will above your own. You can recognize your need for His help and guidance. You don’t feel the need to vindicate yourself because You know the Lord will reveal all that needs to be seen – including you own sin if necessary.

It is a sign of maturity to be able to hold your tongue – to be wise with your speech. James says that “if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man able to bridle his own body” (3:2). Our mouths can get us in a world of trouble – and I am speaking from experience here, unfortunately. What we say reveals what is in our hearts (Matt. 15:18). And, I’m sad to report, that much of what is in my heart is not very flattering. But, praise be to God – He is working to change my heart. And if He began the work, He will complete it!

No human being can tame the tongue – but with God all things are possible. May wisdom reign and rule in our hearts – and over our mouths! – today.

Grace and peace…

Shhh….

“Silence becomes you.” Sometimes the Lord will use someone to get in your face about something He is dealing with you about. This happened to me recently with these three simple words: Silence becomes you. God has been working on me about my constant and incessant desire to make my thoughts known, to express my opinion, when sometimes silence is the way of wisdom. I know that my use of words  in many instances can be for the sake of gaining control or seeking to move something in my desired direction. But the Lord is seeking to prune me of this controlling spirit - and when I am tempted to move ahead and speak my mind, especially when no one has even asked me what was on my mind, these words pop in my head.

Now, this does not mean that I will never speak again. What it does mean is that I must allow the Lord to examine my heart and purge me of those sinful thought patterns that give rise to my constant babbling. My increasingly judicious use of words will reflect a quiet, gentle sprit, a surrendered heart, and a peaceful soul – an inner life controlled by the Lord, and not my own agenda.

When considering whether we should speak or be silent, we should ask ourselves: What is my motive for speaking into this situation? Am I seeking to control the other person? The outcome? Am I seeking to vindicate myself? Am I seeking to pass judgment on someone or something? Will my use of words in a given situation bring honor and glory to the Lord? Or, will they serve to make myself look good, cast me in a positive light, or the other person in a negative one?

If we stop long enough to answer these questions, we may perhaps choose not to speak at all. A passage that the Lord led me to while thinking about this was Proverbs 10:19, “When words are many, transgression is not lacking; but he who restrains his lips is prudent.”

And here’s a classic: “Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips he is deemed intelligent” (Proverbs 17:28). Ouch. Here’s another “ouch”: “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion” (Proverbs 18:2). How do you gain understanding? You have to be “slow to speak, quick to listen” (James 1:19). Oh, how much trouble I could avoid if I heeded this truth in every circumstance!

Lord, grant me the grace to grow!!

More later…

Grace and peace…