Think about this. If the Lord is omnipotent, then we know He can do anything in anyway at any time He wants. Correct? Then if He wanted You stripped of certain habits or faults instantly, He would certainly be able to accomplish that. But that's not the way it works. Our cooperation has something to do with it for sure, but He could even override that if He wanted. We are told in Philippians 2:12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. We are to be working on breaking bad habits and putting off the old man who is addicted to sin, putting on the new man who craves Christlike-ness. But we are not to come under condemnation if we are truly trying our best.
The first Scripture that came to mind was Revelation 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last— salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth— the one who accuses them before our God day and night. Who among us hasn't heard condemnation after condemnation after condemnation in our heads. Satan's fiery arrows. "You do such and such wrong, you don't do this or that right....Look at you! You're no Christian." Ugh!! He stands by to accuse us day and night!
And the Scriptures flowed. The Lord reminded me of Psalm 139:14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. We are beautifully made by our Creator! We are more than just our flaws and failings. And He is working on us, changing us to be like Himself. 2 Corinthians 3:18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. It's our Father's choices, our Father's timing, what to work on when. And finally, the Lord assured me with Romans 8:1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And just now He brought up 1 John 1:9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
Yes, the Lord knows we sin. Yes He sees our struggle with it, our failures to resist our flesh. But He also sees our desire to live for Him. A couple of weeks ago I talked about submitting my hair to the Lord, and now I see there is something else He wants me to submit....my timing. He wants me to submit to His timing in removing my character flaws. And He doesn't wait until I'm perfect to love me perfectly.
We are not to live willy-nilly sin filled lives....but neither are we to live under the dark cloud of condemnation. We keep walking, listening, and submitting to the leading of the Holy Spirit, doing our best to follow Him, knowing that He is working in us to create the image of Jesus in our lives on His schedule.
Lord, thank You for Your perfect love. Thank You for not waiting until I'm perfect to love me. Thank You for not giving up on any of us. And thank You for the work that You continue to do every day. We want to be like Jesus, displaying the fruits of the Spirit, living out the love You gave us. Lord, give us the patience to wait on Your timing, and the fortitude to never give up. In Jesus perfect Name, amen.
Let go of condemnation and your own ideas of timing.
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