Where am I Stiff Necked?
It is fascinating to study the behavior of the people of Israel during the exodus. They experienced miracles daily. God delivered them from slavery in Egypt, He protected them from the plagues affecting everyone else in Egypt. He lead them as a pillar of cloud and fire. He parted the sea for them. He miraculously provided them food to eat.
In spite of all of these miracles, they still continued to question God's leadership. Often they complained that they would be better off dieing in Egypt as slaves.
We too have been rescued by God from slavery. Romans 6:17-18 says "But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness."
For the last several weeks, I have been trying find the words that pinpoint the change that happened when I "died to Sin" . It is hard for my transformed mind to remember how it thought before my conversion. The primary question I have is Is sin different for a Christian than it is for a non-Christian? Do we engage in Sinful activities with the same motives?
Honestly I cannot remember why I sinned before I was saved. I speculate that I had little guilt and engaged sinful activities because I thought that they might lead to a more fulfilling life.
When I sin now, It is out of weakness. Usually sin is not something that I pursue, but something I fall into because I lack the faith to resist. My failures testify to my need for my Savior.
My confusion over this question leads me back to Exodus. Am I just like the nation of Israel? is God doing a miraculous work in me that I just don't see because it happens every day? Am I blind to God's provision because it is so everyday that it doesn't seem miraculous anymore?
3 Comments:
I was enlightened by your article, it seemed to express my feeings also. Praise God. God is so awesome! Iam so grateful to be a child of the risen Lord. Thank you Jesus. Love your child forever, Diana
You are right, Josh: Sin is not an easy thing to resist, no matter how much desire you have in your heart to do what is right. That's why I am so very grateful to God that He forgives me, embraces me with His arms, and says, "Welcome back, child!" whenever I run back to Him. Not once does He turn me away or say, "I told you so!" However, asking for and receiving forgiveness is one thing. Repenting from our sins is another. I find myself constantly repeating some of my sins over and over and without repentance because I live in a home environment that is very controlling and not very Godly, and because I am disabled and can't drive, and I am unable to live on my own without assistance, I don't yet have the resources or the transportation to get out of my current situation so that I can live the life that God wants me to live or be the person that God wants me to be. I will soon, though. In the meantime, however, my struggles continue.
For contemplation:
“through many tribulations you must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22)
See http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2007/2387_The_Sale_of_Joseph_and_the_Son_of_God/
Post a Comment
<< Home