What you hate, shows what you love ...
Sometimes in my darker moments I look at myself in the mirror (physically or metaphorically) and ask myself, "Am I really saved? Am I really a follower of Christ with how much I stumble? Am I not being a hypocrite?"
Of course the world has answers. Though in this world of relative truth and Maslow's self actualization (almost a modern day Athens during the times of Christ) the answer we get never really satisfies. Be yourself, follow your heart, and let society determine what is right and wrong. Yet still it never satisfies - it reminds me of this quote:
However the True and theological answer is that we can indeed find answers to these questions. There are many passages that I've heard individuals use, but reading through Romans chapter 6 today I was struck by this passage that many of you may know.
In my "B.C. years", Pride, Anger, and Lust (among other sins) were not things that I struggled with. I don't mean I didn't sin in them, I just didn't struggle. Being a slave to these sins, I felt free in regard to righteousness because righteousness simply had no hold on me; Christ had no hold because I never reached out my hand. However now, these sins I not only struggle with, I hate. I may still sin, but I am not a slave to them. The enemy may use my feelings of hate towards sin (reminded me of the fact I sinned) to show that I am unfit for the the Kingdom of God. Yet it is this hate for sin that actually answers where my allegiance now lies; with God; with Christ. What you hate, shows what you love ...
Enjoying being a Bondservant to Christ.
~Matthew
Of course the world has answers. Though in this world of relative truth and Maslow's self actualization (almost a modern day Athens during the times of Christ) the answer we get never really satisfies. Be yourself, follow your heart, and let society determine what is right and wrong. Yet still it never satisfies - it reminds me of this quote:
“If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.” - C.S. Lewis
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| Thankful for Truth |
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. (Romans 6:20-22 ESV)So how does this help? I will at least tell you how it helps me in a very brief and simple sense.
In my "B.C. years", Pride, Anger, and Lust (among other sins) were not things that I struggled with. I don't mean I didn't sin in them, I just didn't struggle. Being a slave to these sins, I felt free in regard to righteousness because righteousness simply had no hold on me; Christ had no hold because I never reached out my hand. However now, these sins I not only struggle with, I hate. I may still sin, but I am not a slave to them. The enemy may use my feelings of hate towards sin (reminded me of the fact I sinned) to show that I am unfit for the the Kingdom of God. Yet it is this hate for sin that actually answers where my allegiance now lies; with God; with Christ. What you hate, shows what you love ...
Enjoying being a Bondservant to Christ.
~Matthew
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