#MorningDevotion CHIEF AMONG SINNERS In the mid-1980s researchers at a University made a startling discovery. They conducted an experiment by creating two fictitious job candidates David and John. The candidates had identical CVS and letters of reference. The only difference was that Johns letter included the sentence Sometimes, John can be difficult to get along with. They showed the resumes to a number of personnel directors. Which candidate did the personnel directors overwhelmingly prefer? Difficult to get along with, John. The researchers concluded the criticism of John made praise of John more believable. Admitting Johns wart actually helped sell John. Admitting flaws gives you more credibility. When we think about the New Testament, probably the first name that comes to mind would be the name of Paul the Apostle because he wrote a good part of the New Testament. Paul was not a perfect man and he never for one moment presents himself as perfect. That gives me great hope! 1 Timothy 1:12-15 (NIV) I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. Now you may be thinking, what about 2 Corinthians 5:17: If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!? Had he forgotten about that? Was he not the same Paul who wrote that scripture. For me, this is a great reminder that though I am born again, I still live in the flesh in a world full of sin. Before I gave my life to Christ, I had areas in my life where I lived in the flesh to the full. Now that I am saved because I am still living in the flesh, there will be seasons and times when the flesh would seek to rear its ugly head in these areas. I must guard them carefully because from experience I have realised that there are times if I am not careful when I give in to the pressures of the flesh. Yes I am born again but I still have to contend with the flesh on a daily basis. I am not perfect; I am still working out my salvation with fear and trembling. As brothers and sisters in the Lord it is important to know that and to give each other space to allow Christ to deal with us and do the work He needs to do in us. Putting each other on pedestals puts pressure on us to portray ourselves as perfect which we are not and when one we highly look up to slips and falls though he sincerely repents we find it hard to forgive them because in our minds we thought they were perfect. PRACTICAL APPLICATION Realize that you and I are not yet perfect and we are a work in progress allow the perfect God to continue moulding you into His image.
Posted on: Fri, 10 Oct 2014 03:30:14 +0000
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