2007-10-03 - The Aftermath of Lost Battles

Paul is an interesting man. It seems he wrestled his own wars against sin. And sometimes he lost. Read the seventh chapter of Romans. I can identify with Paul in fighting those battles and losing some of them.

Between the devil, the world, and his own flesh Paul sometimes gave in. He wrote, "For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I." (Romans 7:15) The truth is we all fall from time to time. The temptation that eats away at your will may be much different from the temptations I struggle with, but we all sin. If you do not sin, then you need not read any further. You are a liar and in denial according to scripture because John tells us, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8)

OK so you've admitted that you sin. Now what? We need to confess those sins then move on. If we dwell on those sins, the devil will come in and taunt you. He will tell you that you are not worthy of God's favor. He will tell you that you are a fool for believing the lies that lead to your sin. He will tell you how weak you are for giving in to that temptation. He will make you feel so absolutely miserable that you just want to crawl into a corner and shut out the world - including all the Christians around you. You will beat yourself up and condemn yourself. You will question yourself and God. Then, when he has you feeling disgusted, doubting, weak, and worthless, he will tell you he can make you feel better. He will remind you of the pleasure of sin and tempt you once more. That Satan is a diabolical schemer but he knows how we are; he knows the right buttons to push. But we don't have to fall into the sin to feel good then feel bad after so we sin to feel good again cycle. No, thank God there is a better way. There is a way out. You see - all that guilt that you feel, all that shame, all that condemnation - that is exactly what our Christ Jesus died for.

Romans 8:1 - There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

John 5:24 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Romans 5:18 - Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Can you see that? In Christ, there is no condemnation. He took our sin to the cross and with it, he took the condemnation and shame of it all too. You do not have to beat yourself up over the sin. Admit that it was bad and then just move on. Do not wallow in your sin. Do not allow that lying, thieving, killing demon named Satan rob you. Tell him you know your Savior covers your sin. Tell him he has no business weighing you down with guilt and shame. Let it go and move on. Move forward with God.

Are you ready to end the cycle? Are you really ready to break free from the spiral of sin? Just reach up to God, admit your sin, ask for forgiveness, ask for assistance, and move on hand in hand with the Savior who loves you and took it all upon himself for you. Walk away from the lost battle and march on with the won who has already won the war.

IHFHBOH
Adam

acdum@hotmail.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org

All verses are from KJV except where otherwise noted