Scripture
Psalm 139:17-18 - How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
Observation
I had a diet coke with a new friend today (Thursday). He was obviously a newer believer, and was hungry to understand God's Word, and to be mature. He told me he just wanted to stop messing up. He wanted to be like me.
He was surprised, and frankly didn't believe, that I am just like him. I mess up too. I finally got him to take it on faith...I mess up. He messes up. We all do, no matter how "mature" we are. Our tests just grow to match our faith and maturity.
BUT, how we process what God "thinks" of us when we mess up and our response is very important. God's thoughts about us are precious, and outnumber the grains of sand in the oceans. He never thinks "Man, Chris messed up again." I am saved by grace through Jesus Christ, who intercedes for me in the throne room of the most Holy God. I am a child of God, loved regardless of my actions. God's thoughts about me are precious. My response...to move toward Him, even when I mess up, and forget about the penance I think I should pay...
You know, when you have a fight with someone and you get the "silent treatment" while they are processing (and sometimes punishing you). We never have a silent treatment from God, though we tend impose one because of the guilt we feel.
God's thoughts about me are precious. No silent treatment.
Application
I want to grow in my understanding of grace. I want to model the "no silent treatment" that God gives me to others. I want to help others understand the freedom we have when we walk by faith through grace.
Prayer
Father, thank you that I never get the silent treatment from you, though I often deserve it. When I am tempted to punish myself...don't let me get in the way of our relationship!
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1 comment:
Thanks for this teaching, Chris! I wanna quit messing up too, but I keep on messing up! I do run back to God and ask for forgiveness, so I've got that going for me, and that's a lot!
I am always blown away when I think about how God sees me. I see weakness, and failures in myself. He sees holiness, and his son.
Tears of gratitude to you, Jesus!
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