Christian's Encouragement: Keep Fighting!
Posted
by
mannyD on
2/24/2011 3:51:58 PM
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Just a quick encouragement for the Christian struggling to live purely.
Jesus knows what it is like to be tempted. He was tempted himself by the Devil in the wilderness for 40 days. Imagine that! I know you may be feeling that your struggle has been going longer than 40 days, and so you have a right to feel sorry for yourself and give in, or you may be feeling that Jesus was perfect and "couldn't" sin, and you are a flawed human being, so it's not the same.
40 days was not the only temptation Jesus endured here on earth. He lived his life like you and I. The Devil was aware of the plan for Jesus to die on the cross, which is why he wanted Jesus killed by the pharisees, and I'm sure he whispered in Jesus' ear all the time when Jesus was exhausted from service and just wanted to pray, and yet "more" people needed help. Jesus was tempted all the time.
Yes, Jesus was perfect, but he chose to be. It wasn't wired in him to be "unable" to sin. Jesus chose to follow the commandments of his Father. Jesus was wholly God, yes, but he was also wholly human. He shared the same flesh heart as we have. He felt pain, felt thirst, hunger, desire for fun (I'm sure. The creator of personalities couldn't have given himself a dull one). He personally knows the struggles we've had and are having, and he wants for you to, not just talk with him about it, but to also trust him to take that for you. Jesus, the one who was strong enough to not sin here on earth as a human, wants to take your struggle as his own.
So here's the point:
> Go to his word for guidance. He's waiting to talk to you through it.
> Trust Him. Give Him your heart (the center of who you are), and let him shape you. Don't let the ways of this world shape you.
> Help others. I once heard a friend of mine say, "I noticed that when I'm helping others with their temptation, I gain strength to deal with mine."
The deflating feeling of having let God down is a nightmare, but God loves, God forgives, and God restores. That is not for us to take advantage of, but then again, do not think that you have fallen too much or too hard for his gracious hand to reach you where you are.
