Christians need not become frustrated with their faith. We often beat ourselves up when we read something from the Bible or hear in a sermon something we as Christians are not doing. Like the Israelites of old, we feel helpless to live by the standards laid out in the Bible. It can make us either try harder and beat ourselves up more as we not only fail but drive crazy those around us who watch us struggle. Or it can push us over the edge to where we give up on trying to be a Christian altogether. There is another alternative, we can see what Jesus did and calm down just a little and stop beating ourselves up so much. John 14:26 shows us what Jesus did. Jesus talking here: These things I have spoken to you while being present with you, but, and this is the key but, the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name (and has now sent), He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Not all the stuff you were told by everyone , no matter how well meaning they were, about what you should do but didnt, was meant for you and for sure, it should not make you feel worse. Forget all that! It doesnt matter, more often than not, these were well intentioned people telling you what to do, but that doesnt mean that what they told you is right for you, it could be they were just telling you what to do. The Holy Spirit allows us to be like Jesus. When it comes to following commandments, John 14:31 is the model: As the Father gave Me commandments, so I do. We have to make sure we do what we know to do today and be faithful in that and the rest will take care of itself. If we are fruitful in what we know to do today, the vinedresser prunes off all the dead and unfruitful branches holding those regrets that we beat ourselves up over. Those commands we just could not do, nobody could do them all. Not all commands were made for us, but as the Father gave to you a command today, that I should surely do. It may side track me for a few moments today, but that command I do. These are the things YOU are commanded, the daily things, these things you should do all stem from one place: I command you, that you love one another -John 15:17 And you cant honestly love yourself (like you are supposed to love others like) unless you ARE yourself. God is love, let heavn adore him; God is love, let earth rejoice; let creation sing before him and exalt him with one voice. God who laid the earths foundation, God who spread the heavns above, God who breathes through all creation: God is love, eternal love. (463)
Posted on: Sat, 15 Nov 2014 14:42:00 +0000
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