As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. Psalm 103:12-14
I long to be a man of God. I want to know God. I want to make God known to those around me. I want to communicate God’s love to others by my words and actions. Most of the time.
I threw a wrench into the works this week.
There were two situations where anger drove my words and actions in ways that did not say “man of God.” Afterward I was really troubled. I ran to prayer and repentance, but they didn’t comfort me. I had to rest in the promise that the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives (Hebrews 12:5-6). That’s the Father’s training, not payment for my sin. Christ has paid for my sin. I still however, had to sit in the lingering after-effects of my sin. Shame, self-consciousness, attempts at justifying my position, and just feeling crappy. Thankfully, God’s promises carried me through.
It’s hard to write the words. My sin.
It chops away at my pride. It gives me a front-row seat to what is really in my heart. The need to be right. Selfishness. Demanding I get my way. Wanting more. Wanting the last word. Seeing ourselves can be devastating. When we do, like Peter after denying Christ, we want to break down and weep (Matthew 26:75).
Praise the Lord! We are men of God not because we have perfected our behavior. We are men of God because we are in Christ. The Spirit is faithful to show us ourselves, including the sin that clings so closely (Hebrews 12:1). It is here we draw near to Christ as the Spirit works in us, changing us into His image. The Spirit often does His deepest work in our most difficult trials and temptations. Change happens when we see our sin in the light of God’s mercy in Christ.
In our sin and failure, draw near to the Lord. He is with us in our victories and defeats. Like a good Father, God is continuously working. He is calling us to Himself. It is the Spirit who makes us men of God. As He does, God is glorified.
The Next Question
- What behaviors do you minimize that Scripture calls sin?
- What do you do when you fall into sin? Do you hide, fix it yourself, or draw near to Christ?
- How honest are you with the Lord about your struggles, knowing Christ has already borne your sin?