Rather than posting the Friday's Reflection series as a way to "reflect" on my previous week, instead I am going to post a Scripture reflection. Every Friday, I will post a new Scripture, discuss my reflection of it, then give you the chance to do the same. By participating, you will have the chance to win prizes, as well as the opportunity to meet other Christian teens. =)
"When you were spiritually dead because of your sins,
and because you were not free from the power of your sinful self,
God made you alive with Christ, and he forgave all our sins.
He canceled the debt, which listed all the rules we failed to follow.
He took away that record with its rules and nailed it to the cross."
It's easy to forget that we don't receive God's love simply based on what we do or don't do. Yes, God wants us to go to church, read the Bible, and strive to please Him in every decision that we make. However, if we try to please Him through our performance only rather than our heart, we will experience overwhelming guilt any time we mess up. Those are the very things that Christ came to set us free from. Satan condemns; Jesus convicts.
God doesn't want our relationship with Him to be based on following a long list of rules. Scripture says that He canceled our debt. He nailed those rules and our sins to the cross so that we could experience a lasting, loving relationship with Him.
Maybe you've sinned so much that you feel as if you're "too dirty" for God's grace. Keep in mind that Jesus died for the sinners, not the sinless. You don't have to live in the chains of condemnation and guilt any longer. When Christ rose from the dead, He broke the chains of death and freed you from your sins. You are free from striving to please God through performance only; you are free to live a completely new life because of God's grace; and you are free to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
- Do you ever feel guilty and condemned after sinning? Why do you think God wants us to feel convicted rather than condemned, and what do you think the difference between the two are?+2 pts
- Do you often find yourself trying to please God through a performance rather than giving Him your heart? +2 pts
- What are some steps you can take to develop a more personal relationship with Jesus Christ? +2 pts
- Describe the time you first accepted Christ as your Savior. Did you feel free from your sin and as if you were a new person? Or did you still feel guilty every time you messed up? +5 pts
- Discuss your own reflection of this Scripture (as I did above -- at least one paragraph). +5 pts
6 points = answered questions
ReplyDeleteDo you ever feel guilty and condemned after sinning? Why do you think God wants us to feel convicted rather than condemned, and what do you think the difference between the two are?
I tend to feel guilty and ashamed after ever having sinned; naturally of course, no doubt. I'll feel pretty bad about it and probably keep it all bottled up and in my thoughts. I think God convicts, because He is teaching us in a way. As a Father, I think His main role is to teach us, because He knows what's best for us, and only wants the best for us as His children. Although, He doesn't want us to think otherwise about ourselves, in a good way. He wants us to be honest. He wants us to surrender and simply know. That's it; is what I think. He doesn't want us to feel like shameful human beings, yet He just wants us to surrender and call out to Him for His guidance, love, and forgiveness. Therefore, I'd like to think that conviction coming from Him is only based on fairness. In a way, we all have to know what's right from wrong. But, Satan in a way wants us to feel ashamed of ourselves no matter what. He wants to condemn us and make us feel as if there is no way out, and that we are too unforgivable. He wants to stray us away from God's grace and love that we are given freely to rejoice in.
So, in the end, I feel that God wants to teach us to know what's good and what is bad, while Satan just wants to make it hard on all of us. Satan just wants to make us mentally blind about the opportunities our Father gives to us, while He lures us away from Him, along with condemning us all.
Do you often find yourself trying to please God through a performance rather than giving Him your heart?
Not that I know of; rarely. I try my best to honor Him through crucial decisions or any decisions for that matter, especially in terms of how I spend my time and what I do. The rest, such as my joy, peace, and love for my Father comes from my entire inner-being, so rarely do I become obsessed with perfecting myself and my life. I have learned that we're all imperfect no matter what we do or try to do, but that God is beyond comprehension and words almighty, loving, and gracious! He teaches us to let be, be, because He reveals to us His presence in our lives. We start to feel His hand at work, and begin to let go of what we can't control, because we can feel Him caring for us. So, I don't really focus on performance, but just on how I feel about all that my Father has done for me and shown me. I focus on my spiritual relationship with Him more than ever to grow in my faith. :)
What are some steps you can take to develop a more personal relationship with Jesus Christ?
By continuing to read His Word, praying, seeking Him, talking to Him, praising Him, thanking Him, worshipping Him; in all that I do. :) And in each day, a new and beautiful blessing will come from Him to remind me that He's very much present!
I answered all the questions and wrote my own reflection: 16 points.
ReplyDeleteI pinned the 'Friday Reflections' on Pinterest: 10 points.
Put it on my blog: 10 points
36 points total
http://www.foreverchanged13.blogspot.com/2014/04/reflections_24.html
Thanks for doing this, Tessa! I am really encouraged by it!
In Christ,
Sarah