But I'm too....

5.14.12

Romans 3:23 NIV

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Have you every felt like there was something God was calling you to do, but YOU were just getting in the way of yourself and what He wants you to do?  I'm not talking about a busy schedule or procrastination.  I'm talking about the times that you know that you have been gifted a certain way but you convince yourself that you're not good enough to serve God.  I'm talking about the times when you tell yourself that you know everyone has "stuff" but your "stuff" is dirtier, so your better off not trying.

Have you ever caught yourself saying something like "I'm so glad that they don't know about when I did...."?  I believe that we let our sin keep us from truly serving God the way that He needs us to serve.  We get wrapped up in the idea that we're too dirty or we're not good enough for God.  Well the reality is that our sin does separate us from God, but the Romans 3:23 doesn't end with that thought.  In verse 24 the thought goes on with this phrase..."and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." The thought goes on to tell us that we are forgiven because of what Jesus did for us.

There is something to be said that Paul writes and let us know that we're all sinner, but that we're all also cleansed of that sin by Christ's love.  That no sinner is different than any other sinner, because while we all sinned Christ still died.  Paul is writing this to say that your "stuff" is no different than someone else's stuff and the only one that is telling you that you are "too dirty" to serve Jesus is you.  Christ redeemed you and your testimony of how Jesus loves you could be the story that has an eternal impact on someone else's testimony.

I think that one of the biggest tricks the devil plays on us is to convince us that our sin is too big and too powerful in our lives to be worthy of doing God's work.  Satan wants us to stay rooted in our guilt and shame because it will keep us from being God's tools in advancing the work of Jesus' kingdom.  You can have confidence that when you follow Christ that NO sin can cover grace.  You have been justified from the sin and penalty of sin.  Now it's time for you to realize that God can use you as a tool to further HIs kingdom.

If you are following Christ and you are letting your sin and shame keep you from serving him than it's time for you to know that the grace that Jesus offers, far out weighs the weight that we put on our own shoulders.  Jesus loves you and it's time that you start to see yourself as Jesus sees you, a redeemed child and a powerful tool in the fight for the growth of His kingdom.  It's time to serve God with the confidence that comes from the power of the cross.  It's time break away from the guilt of our past.

This doesn't mean we continue to sin and not care, it means that when we do slip and fall that we can remember that there is grace.  Get in the fight to reach folks far from Christ.  Let God use the gifts and talents, that He has equipped you with, to be a warrior for the kingdom.

Thought question:  What sins in your past/present are you gripping too tightly too?  How is this preventing you from being used by God to further His kingdom?