While there is not a Bible verse that specifically states we commit a sinful act each day, we do have verses that remind us that we have inherited the capacity to sin at any moment. "Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned" (Romans 5:12). "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me" (Psalm 51:5). In addition, we have commands that we know we never keep, much less on a daily basis. For instance, who can claim to love God with all his heart, mind and soul every moment of every day? No one. Yet, that is the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:36-38). Failing to love God completely at all times is a daily sin for all Christians.
We also have a verse that warns us of the deceitfulness of our old sinful nature, which in a sense is warning us of the potential, if not the likelihood, of daily sin. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9). Even the apostle Paul was frustrated with his own battle against indwelling sin. "For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members" (Romans 7:22-23). This capacity to sin led him to cry in desperation, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24).
Solomon knew full well that he and all men not only have the potential for sin, but that we all exercise that capacity routinely. As he stated in his prayer at the dedication of the temple, "If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not)" (1 Kings 8:46). And Solomon spoke of it again in the book of Ecclesiastes: "For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not" (Ecclesiastes 7:20). Again, while these verses do not unequivocally indicate daily sin, they certainly warn us against the pride of saying at any moment that we have no sin.
The good news is that we will not have to strive forever against daily sin. One day we will be in heaven with our Savior and will be freed from the presence and power of sin, just as we have already been freed from its penalty.
Friday, February 19, 2010
"Why are there times in my life when finding God is so difficult?!
Some of the most promising and spectacular words ever spoken by God are found in the book of Jeremiah: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you” (Jeremiah 29:13-14). And sometimes, in our quest for finding God, it appears that He wants to remind us of this extraordinary promise to us. We’re deeply troubled, so we fervently pray. We’re distressed, so we cry out to God for relief. But sometimes all we hear in reply is silence—a silence so deafening it drowns out every thought but this: God isn't listening. So we ask, “Has God abandoned me?”
Many believers have experienced these feelings and asked the same question. After C. S. Lewis lost his wife to cancer, he called out to God for comfort but sensed no reply. Confused, he asked, "What can this mean? Why is He so present a commander in our time of prosperity and so very absent a help in time of trouble?"
The Scriptures speak of cries of help, cries of distress, calling for God in times of great need and turmoil: “Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time?” (Psalm 77:7-8).
“O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet, O God, be not still” (Psalm 83:1).
At times our spiritual lives are like this. We think we know where God is, where we stand in our relationship to Him and yet, one day, something changes. We lose a job, our spouse wants a divorce. Even good changes, such as a job promotion or the birth of a child can bring about a sense of uncertainty. Some have referred to these unexpected changes in life as “divine interruptions.” As exciting as some of these changes can be, they can interrupt our feelings of well-being, and they can leave us feeling very much alone and forgotten; so we question: “Where is God anyway? Why am I having such a difficult time finding God?”
It’s important to remember that the promises of Jeremiah 29:13-14 are never nullified by subjective feelings. Because we feel that God is far from us doesn’t mean He is. In fact, He has told us that He will never leave us or forsake us, and since He never lies, we have to hold onto what we know about God’s character; therefore, we reject incorrect conclusions about our circumstances when those conclusions contradict what we know about God from His Word.
For the key to “finding” God, we have to go back to Psalm 77. After the psalmist laments that God has rejected him and His love has vanished (vv. 7-8), he comes to his senses and writes verses 11-12, giving us the two-part solution to feeling abandoned by God: “I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.” First, he determines to remember God’s deeds and His miracles. Just remembering how God saved us from a life of futility and an eternity in hell should give us a proper perspective on His love. When we remember the many times He intervened in our lives in the form of answered prayer, we are reminded of His faithfulness. Some people find it helpful to keep a journal of answered prayer which they can refer back to in the “dry” times of doubts and confusion.
Second, the psalmist determines to meditate on God’s works and His deeds. Meditating on God’s Word is the only sure way to come to right conclusions about God. Those who are “blessed” in Psalm 1 are those who mediate on God’s law—the Bible—“day and night.” It delights us (v. 2) and makes us strong, fruitful and able to withstand life’s storms without withering (v. 3). But if we neglect the Word, we neglect the only means of sanctification in our lives and leave ourselves open to the lies of the devil, who would like nothing better than to convince us that God has abandoned us.
Jeremiah promises that when we seek God with all our hearts, God will be found. As the hours turn into days, and the days turn into weeks, dare to be one who’s on a never-ending quest to find God in every single day, to remember and meditate on His mighty words, and to welcome His “divine interruptions.”
Many believers have experienced these feelings and asked the same question. After C. S. Lewis lost his wife to cancer, he called out to God for comfort but sensed no reply. Confused, he asked, "What can this mean? Why is He so present a commander in our time of prosperity and so very absent a help in time of trouble?"
The Scriptures speak of cries of help, cries of distress, calling for God in times of great need and turmoil: “Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time?” (Psalm 77:7-8).
“O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet, O God, be not still” (Psalm 83:1).
At times our spiritual lives are like this. We think we know where God is, where we stand in our relationship to Him and yet, one day, something changes. We lose a job, our spouse wants a divorce. Even good changes, such as a job promotion or the birth of a child can bring about a sense of uncertainty. Some have referred to these unexpected changes in life as “divine interruptions.” As exciting as some of these changes can be, they can interrupt our feelings of well-being, and they can leave us feeling very much alone and forgotten; so we question: “Where is God anyway? Why am I having such a difficult time finding God?”
It’s important to remember that the promises of Jeremiah 29:13-14 are never nullified by subjective feelings. Because we feel that God is far from us doesn’t mean He is. In fact, He has told us that He will never leave us or forsake us, and since He never lies, we have to hold onto what we know about God’s character; therefore, we reject incorrect conclusions about our circumstances when those conclusions contradict what we know about God from His Word.
For the key to “finding” God, we have to go back to Psalm 77. After the psalmist laments that God has rejected him and His love has vanished (vv. 7-8), he comes to his senses and writes verses 11-12, giving us the two-part solution to feeling abandoned by God: “I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.” First, he determines to remember God’s deeds and His miracles. Just remembering how God saved us from a life of futility and an eternity in hell should give us a proper perspective on His love. When we remember the many times He intervened in our lives in the form of answered prayer, we are reminded of His faithfulness. Some people find it helpful to keep a journal of answered prayer which they can refer back to in the “dry” times of doubts and confusion.
Second, the psalmist determines to meditate on God’s works and His deeds. Meditating on God’s Word is the only sure way to come to right conclusions about God. Those who are “blessed” in Psalm 1 are those who mediate on God’s law—the Bible—“day and night.” It delights us (v. 2) and makes us strong, fruitful and able to withstand life’s storms without withering (v. 3). But if we neglect the Word, we neglect the only means of sanctification in our lives and leave ourselves open to the lies of the devil, who would like nothing better than to convince us that God has abandoned us.
Jeremiah promises that when we seek God with all our hearts, God will be found. As the hours turn into days, and the days turn into weeks, dare to be one who’s on a never-ending quest to find God in every single day, to remember and meditate on His mighty words, and to welcome His “divine interruptions.”
How can I have the mind of Christ?!
In 1 Corinthians 2:16, Paul quotes Isaiah 40:13 and then makes a statement concerning all believers: “We have the mind of Christ.” Having the mind of Christ means sharing the plan, purpose, and perspective of Christ, and it is something that all believers possess.
Having the mind of Christ means we understand God’s plan in the world—to bring glory to Himself, restore creation to its original splendor, and provide salvation for sinners. It means we identify with Christ’s purpose “to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). It means we share Jesus’ perspective of humility and obedience (Philippians 2:5-8), compassion (Matthew 9:36), and prayerful dependence on God (Luke 5:16).
In the verses leading up to 1 Corinthians 2:16, we note some truths concerning the mind of Christ:
1) The mind of Christ stands in sharp contrast to the wisdom of man (verses 5-6).
2) The mind of Christ involves wisdom from God, once hidden but now revealed (verse 7).
3) The mind of Christ is given to believers through the Spirit of God (verses 10-12).
4) The mind of Christ cannot be understood by those without the Spirit (verse 14).
5) The mind of Christ gives believers discernment in spiritual matters (verse 15).
In order to have the mind of Christ, one must first have saving faith in Christ (John 1:12; 1 John 5:12). After salvation, the believer lives a life under God’s influence. The Holy Spirit indwells and enlightens the believer, infusing him with wisdom—the mind of Christ. The believer bears a responsibility to yield to the Spirit’s leading (Ephesians 4:30) and to allow the Spirit to transform and renew his mind (Romans 12:1-2).
Having the mind of Christ means we understand God’s plan in the world—to bring glory to Himself, restore creation to its original splendor, and provide salvation for sinners. It means we identify with Christ’s purpose “to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). It means we share Jesus’ perspective of humility and obedience (Philippians 2:5-8), compassion (Matthew 9:36), and prayerful dependence on God (Luke 5:16).
In the verses leading up to 1 Corinthians 2:16, we note some truths concerning the mind of Christ:
1) The mind of Christ stands in sharp contrast to the wisdom of man (verses 5-6).
2) The mind of Christ involves wisdom from God, once hidden but now revealed (verse 7).
3) The mind of Christ is given to believers through the Spirit of God (verses 10-12).
4) The mind of Christ cannot be understood by those without the Spirit (verse 14).
5) The mind of Christ gives believers discernment in spiritual matters (verse 15).
In order to have the mind of Christ, one must first have saving faith in Christ (John 1:12; 1 John 5:12). After salvation, the believer lives a life under God’s influence. The Holy Spirit indwells and enlightens the believer, infusing him with wisdom—the mind of Christ. The believer bears a responsibility to yield to the Spirit’s leading (Ephesians 4:30) and to allow the Spirit to transform and renew his mind (Romans 12:1-2).
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