Have you ever tried to pick something up that was too heavy for you?\u00a0 You may have been able to pick it up after straining a lot, which ends in pulled muscles and a miserable feeling body for a few days.\u00a0 Maybe you were able to carry it for a little distance but then it got to be too much and you dropped it.\u00a0 My boys are always eager to show off how big their muscles are and how strong they are.\u00a0 I have to admit sometimes it is entertaining to watch them try.\u00a0 But it got me to thinking about the struggle of sin in our life.\u00a0 Is there something(s) in your life that want to get rid of, you confess it, you think you have repented of it, but then your next prayer time starts as follows, “Lord, I’m sorry for doing this again?”\u00a0 I think in a moment of honesty we would all agree that we have a habit in our life.\u00a0 But why can’t we get rid of it?\u00a0 There can be several reasons.\u00a0 The first is maybe we are praying for God to take it away, but we don’t really want Him to take it away.\u00a0 1 Samuel 16:7 reminds us, “. . .the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”\u00a0 God knows out true heart and feelings on an issue and so if we are not genuine in wanting to be delivered from this habit, God is not going to bring deliverance.\u00a0 There are a few other possibilities as to why we continue to struggle with the same sinful habit.\u00a0 However, it generally comes down to accountability.\u00a0 Accountability is something many of us say we want, but then we get upset when someone holds us accountable.\u00a0 Galatians 6:1-2 says, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”\u00a0 Without fully breaking down this verse we learn some important truths.\u00a0 First of all, when we get “overtaken” in a sin (the sinful habit we keep asking forgiveness for) it is a sign that we can’t handle this by our self.\u00a0 Secondly we learn that we need to find someone who is spiritual ( a maturing Christian) to share this problem with and ask for help before the weight of the sinful habit crushes us.\u00a0 Next we see that the person who is holding you accountable must realize that they are just as susceptible to falling into sin (considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted).\u00a0 It is so easy to feel as though we can judge a person because they struggle with something we don’t, but we must remember we are sinners just like they are.\u00a0 The beginning of verse 2 says that we are to “bear one another’s burdens.”\u00a0 In other words we are to come along side of them and take on this struggle with them.\u00a0 This speaks of praying with them and for them over this sinful habit.\u00a0 And finally, when we do that we are fulfilling the Law of Christ.\u00a0 What is the Law of Christ?\u00a0 The law of Christ is that we love one another.\u00a0 John 13:34-35 says, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men<\/i> know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”\u00a0 When we come alongside a brother or sister who is struggling with sin, we are showing the world that we belong to Christ.\u00a0 The world may stand back and condemn the person, but as Christians we are to have compassion on them (without condoning the sinful behavior) just as Jesus had and has compassion on us and our struggles.<\/p>\n
By His grace and through His strength may we live for Him<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Have you ever tried to pick something up that was too heavy for you?\u00a0 You may have been able to pick it up after straining a lot, which ends in pulled muscles and a miserable feeling body for a few … Read More