Issue 1349 – Less Than Pristine – January 20, 2024
It’s been a few days since the snowfall ended. Since then, we have had rain or freezing rain and temperatures slightly above freezing. The children and dogs have played in the snow.
The snow on the hill is largely worn away in some areas. Innumerable kids (and some adults) sledded and skied down it, wearing the snow away.
Everything was crisp, white, and beautiful just a few days ago. Everything looked pristine.
As the snow melts, that facade melts and wears away. Something similar happens with people.
We can look at ourselves and hide the sin from view. We can rationalize it, blame others for it, or be blinded. We can convince ourselves that God doesn’t mind, at least when it is us; after all, doesn’t He “love” us? Some adopt the strategy of ignoring God or telling ourselves that He doesn’t exist at all.
We are masters of hiding our sins and hurts from others, even within the church community. I serve in a rotation of greeters at our local assembly. It amazes me (and perhaps it shouldn’t) how many people struggling in life or in pain are “fine.”
We have mastered the church mask of the big smile, bigger Bible and loud “Praise the Lord” (or equivalent in your local assembly).
In short we are skilled masters of hiding reality from ourselves and others while making the surface picture pristine.
The problem is that while we might fool nearly everyone, including ourselves, we don’t fool God for an instant.
We need to be honest with ourselves about our struggles. It isn’t necessarily wisdom to share our sin struggles with everyone in the church, but we must take them to the Lord without excuse.
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:5:10
Similarly, we can take our other struggles before the Lord for help and to other believers. One of our roles as believers is to help other believers carry their load.
God has given us the body of believers to function together. Someone else has likely been through whatever you face and can offer wisdom or, at a bare minimum, a listening ear and caring heart.
There is no need to put that facade on. Set it aside and be free.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the Glory of God alone)
__________________________________________
Please like and share this post with friends and your circle of influence. Also, feel free to comment.
Did you know that we have an email version? It has the same great content but in a different format. Subscribe today https://mailchi.mp/f27bbeb09c22/gleanings-1
______________________________
All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2024 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, Gleanings From The Word.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
___________________________________________
#pristine #snow #sin #confession #1John #repentance #gospel #Christian #hope #encouragement #Biblestudy #faith #dailyBible #verseoftheday #grace #god #HolySpirit #theology #blessing #BibleReading # #biblestudy #bible #bibleVerse #jesus #christian #god #faith #jesuschrist #godisgood #scripture #biblequotes #love #prayer #christianity #bibleverses #church #christ #worship #blessed #amen #verseoftheday #truth #trending #AbbotsfordAuthors #AbbotsfordWriters #ChristianWriters #BCAuthors #BCWriters #BCChristianWriters #KevinCorbin