Tag: Paul

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The cure for inadequacy

I hate being wrong.  Not saying that I am never wrong…I am wrong all the time.  I hate feeling like I am not enough. We are human and once sin entered our world, there was an inevitablness to our being wrong…a lot.  I hate it, our sinful nature.  I so desperately want to do right and still, I continue to do wrong.  Thus, I feel so inadequate and unworthy.

Paul wrote almost half the New Testament.  He was one of the greatest evangelists and prophets in the Bible.  Yet, he wrote this scripture:

“So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.” (‭Romans‬ ‭7‬:‭14-17‬ NLT)

He struggled with the same internal turmoil I do.  Paul also was a man God respected and used in mighty ways.  Acts 19 describes how God gave Paul so much power that an apron or handkerchief that had brushed Paul’s skin were used to then bring to the sick & they were healed.  God gave Paul a great anointing and great authority. And yet he penned the scripture above.

I have to ask myself…am I inadequate and unworthy if Paul struggled with the same things I did?  The answer is a definitive yes.  On my own, trying to make it by my self, I will fail every time.  That is why I (as did Paul) need God.  I need His grace and mercy.  I need Him to live in my heart and to fill me up with Him daily.  I need to (1) pray daily, (2) read my Bible daily, (3) attend a weekly worship service at a local church and (4) try to live righteously the best I can.  In doing these things, through my communion with God, I will make it.

I encourage you, if you at all identified with my feelings expressed above, please spend time with God.  Acknowledge that He is the only way and the only truth.  Pray to Him that He reveal those dark recesses of your heart that hold you back.  Learn the Bible and let it feed your soul.  Join a local church where you can connect with people who struggle with the same things you do.  This will put you on the right track.

Prayer: King Jesus, without you, I am inadequate.  I need you to come inside of me and clean the deep-rooted things that fill my heart.  Help me stay on the road to righteousness.  I understand that it will be a daily struggle, but I am willing to make that effort.  Thank you for loving me.  I love you deeply.  In your name, amen.

Be blessed everyone!

  

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A moment on the road…

Grace is one of the greatest gifts we have received from the Almighty.  It is how we can live now, in this time, without the regulations of the law of Moses.  The blood of Christ covers our sins – we can go to our Father with sincere repentance and our transgressions are blotted out.

One of the greatest pictures of God’s grace is found in Acts 9.  Saul, a Pharisee and Bible scholar of that time, took it upon himself to get rid of all these “Jesus followers” that kept popping up everywhere.  One day, on the way to Demascus, Jesus himself shows up, confronts him about his actions, and converts him.  As you know, Paul became one of the greatest prophets in that time and wrote half the New Testament.  

Let’s think about this for a moment – God sees a man killing off His people and says “I want that one.”  Makes no sense to this human brain of mine.  If it was up to me, I would have taken him out.  But that is why I am not God.  His ways are not like our ways.  He sees us differently than we see ourselves.  His love is unconditional.

This type of Grace is available for all.  You feel like you are unlovable?  Guess what?  You aren’t!  If God can take a man who is killing off His own people & show Him love, He can show you love too.  No matter who you are, what you have done, who you have hurt – He can make you new.  You have  to just be willing and trust that He will do it.

Let’s pray: Jesus, thank you for who you are.  Thank you for loving me just the way I am.  I know that I have not done anything bad enough that your grace cannot cover.  I ask you, Lord, to wash away all my sins.  Come into my heart, Lord, and show me your ways.  Also, Lord, help me show others grace like you have shown me.  In your precious name, amen.

Be blessed, everyone.

  
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#Change

There is a common constant on all our lives – change. One thing we all can agree on is: Change. Is. Hard. We want to be comfortable…in a place where we can predict what is going to happen next. In a perfect world, there would be nothing wrong with this because there would be no need for change. Unfortunately, we live in a fallen world – a world that desperately needs change.

God loves change – transformation. He loves to take people who are living in bondage & free them, thus bringing them in a state of transformation. Look at Paul, born Saul who was transformed one day as he traveled. (Acts 9:1-18) This man killed Jesus’ followers & then God decided to transform him into the first Evangelist – traveling the known world preaching about Christ.

The Bible is filled with stories like this. It is evident that God uses change for His glory. As a follower of Christ, I will bet that you have either endured change, are going through change right now, or about to endure it. You understand that it is hard. I can also bet that at some point in your life, you have fought change.

Change is needed in this world in so many areas. We have become complacent where we are until we are pushed beyond our limits. Chaos, then, ensues. This is not a good system to live by.

What if we decided today that we are going to become comfortable with change? What if we decide that we will make the change in our lives before we expect anyone else to make the change? What if we realize that change starts with us?

I encourage you to seek the face of God today – let Him show you the things in your life that need to be changed. As you take that Cross and bear it, the catalyst of your change will start changing those around you. Remember, you must be the change you wish to see in the world.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ NLT)

Be blessed.

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