During childhood, I was in some churches that talked about the Christian life like it was a vale of tears, a cross to bear for all of life. We were constantly reminded that we were sinful. I’ve since known some people who lived with that mindset, who were so “holy” and full of works, literally striving for righteousness through outward means, that they weren’t enjoying the blessings God had placed in their lives.
How is it beneficial to dwell on sin? We’re supposed to count our blessings, not our shortcomings. We’re to turn things over to the Lord, heed the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and let Him do the work in us while we joyfully follow the stepping-stones of growth He has set before us.
“Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it,” so what does it profit me to search myself constantly for weeds to pluck? If God isn’t prompting their removal, they’ll probably grow right back. (And next time, they might have thorns!)
I’m not saying we shouldn’t ever examine our hearts; merely, that it shouldn’t be our focus. “Me” isn’t necessarily supposed to be the motivation for change. Our eyes are to be fixed on Jesus, our ears attuned to the Holy Spirit, our hearts receiving words from the Father about our worth in His eyes.
We were born with a sin nature — but we have since been redeemed, bought with a great price. I’m not a “lowly worm” of a person, I’m a Princess in an almighty kingdom. You aren’t a mess of contradictions with so many problems you’ll never get them all sorted out, you’re a worthy work in progress. Where God doesn’t see fit to change or remove something in you, the Holy Spirit will change your mindset about that area to acceptance, possibly even to gratitude.
You are His work, not your own project. “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.”
Copyright 2010 by Tammi Mossman.
