Why Living a Victorious Christian Life is not the Goal

In my last post I raised the question of why a loving God would leave us in our sin. If you read it you know I gave a few reasons before concluding that “getting better” is about becoming more dependent on Jesus’ perfect life for me than me actually becoming more perfect and sin-free.

Continuing with that thought I want to first say: You cannot achieve the victorious life here on Earth so stop beating yourself up when you fail! In fact, stop making living victorious your mission!

Many Christians believe this is the goal because much of our teaching and preaching focuses on working harder and getting better. The action is placed on us and our eyes directed to self instead of beholding Him – the only One who was perfect for us!

Here is what I mean. We are told to be like Christ, to be holy as He was holy, to love like He loved, to bear much fruit and on and on. Yes, these are commands and what we are called to. But the point we need to see is how we can’t.

That is why we need a Savior! He was holy and pefect for me. He was always patient, always kind, always had self-control, love and joy. He was never anxious or consumed by fear. He who knew no sin was made sin for me because I will continue to struggle and fail to do what I am called to.

These truths about Christ is what must be proclaimed. We need to hear about His righteousness for us. Not more law adding to the burden and guilt heaped upon us.

Being captivated by who He is for us is what leads to deeper worship. And when our hearts are moved in praise we have a greater desire to obey Him out of love, not duty.  Even so, it is His work in us. He changes hearts.  So, we can’t take any credit for our self-control or successes in living the Christian life well.

When we don’t succeed and think we are backsliding, typically what happens is we think we must work harder in that area. But what does that even mean and how do we do that?

It’s not that we need to work harder, it’s we need turn our eyes once again to our Savior who accepts and loves us deeply even in our sin. In fact, seeing the depth of our sin magnifies how great His love is! 

Does this mean we don’t try not to sin?

No, but when we do sin (which we all do) we don’t have to hide and cover it up. We can go boldly to His throne of grace and acknowledge again our need, knowing He does not reject us or demand we pay penance to measure up. Instead, He draws near!

If this is enough for Jesus, why is there no room for sin and struggle in the church? 

It goes back again to the emphasize of what is taught – law or grace?

So by God’s grace may we see Him as the One who was Victorious for us.  May we hear that truth consistently preached. And may we be a part of a body of believers where grace reigns and we are safe to be deeply loved broken sinners together.

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BUSY… Tis the Season

Decorating. Shopping, Wrapping. Baking. Planning. Sprinkle in a few brunches and parties, plus the on-going normal day-to-day obligations; Tis the Season… and there is ALOT to do!

• Does the non-stop flurry of activity ever make you feel like the Grinch?

• Your merry mood and best intentions quickly unraveled by stress?

• Do you proclaim “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” yet your heart is too consumed for worship and rest?

When my oldest was just two years old I heard a speaker at a women’s church luncheon on the topic of Redeeming Christmas. While that one talk all those years ago did not prevent all holiday stress forever, it did serve to reorient my perspective, shape our traditions and form the foundation of how we do Christmas.

So what is Redeeming Christmas?

Celebrating Christ and People, not Santa and things.

Does that mean the latter two need to be thrown out the window?

No. It’s just not what I want to focus on or be consumed by. Instead my desire is that seeking to elevate Christ and others is what would actually guide how we celebrate, decorate, give, schedule our time and activities.

There is no prescription I give you for this. And as my husband’s Galatians sermon series continues to emphasize, living under the law is bondage. I say this because what works for our family may be different for yours and that is OK.  All I want to do with this post is throw out a few thoughts for reflection before Christmas craziness spirals out of control… so that we might be purposeful about what we say matters most. 

To that end…

• Do I make silent, still time to prepare my heart for the Coming of Christ? What about helping my family prepare their hearts?

• Are there activites, traditions or spending that can be eliminated to free us from distraction while being sucked further in to materialism and what the world says is important?

• What would it look like to reoriente our calendar so we can enjoy spending time with others during the advent season instead of scurrying around all the time?

• How can I personally and in our family focus more on Christ and less on the commercial and secular aspects of Christmas?

• Pray we would see how the joy of the season is robbed when we are too BUSY: B-eing U-nder S-atan’s Y-oke.

Come to think of it, these ideas for Redeeming Christmas can and should guide us in every season! How much more joyful and freeing for Redeeming all our time if we focus first on Christ and People!

Ann Voskamp’s new book pictured above is as beautifully written to help us Behold Christ, as her One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are that I mentioned on my Thanksgiving Day post. Don’t want to miss any post? Enter your email on the upper right-hand column after “Follow blog via email”.

When Disaster Strikes

At 2:30 this afternoon, I left my Oklahoma home to pick up my daughter at her high school, while my husband went to get the boys at their elementary school. News of tornadoes hitting was imminent. The rain had started and the streets congested with other parents rushing to the schools early to get their kids too.

In the community of Moore, just 25 miles south of me, this same scene was happening.  It’s hard to process; however, that perhaps Plaza Towers Elementary School was already in lockdown bracing for the hit, before many of the parents arrived.  Now some of these devastated moms and dads are childless refugees.

 

 

It’s agonizing. It’s unfair. It’s unexplainable.

What do we do with this?

Where is God?

Why does He allow tornadoes to strike?

If we are honest, these are our questions. And as I stated in my post back in December after the Sandy Hook tragedy, I don’t pretend to have the answers.  But I believe with all my heart that peace doesn’t come in knowing why, but in knowing WHO.

The WHO is our resource.  The WHO understands my questions and welcomes them. The WHO definitively answered my questions at the cross.

The WHO was the innocent man who died for something He didn’t do.  At the cross, JESUS experienced the ultimate tragedy…His Father turned his back on Him, leaving Him alone, rejected and despised, to suffer a humiliating death on the cross. But He endured because of the joy set before Him…He died in order to redeem, restore, renew, recreate.

But until that one day when all things will permanently be made right once again, when every tear will be wiped, He is our resource. He is near. He understands. He feels our pain deeply. He is our Hope and Comfort.

Lord, please help us to see that even in the midst of a tornado or in the safety of a storm shelter, it is only You who can truly give us peace. It is only You who can give us Life. Though we don’t understand your ways, help us to trust and to see that you are good.

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