He likes to lay on guilt about not being "holy" enough.
Does God desire for us to live holy lives? Absolutely. Can we misunderstand what holiness is? Absolutely.
Romans 8:1
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
God has given us things here on earth to enjoy. He has given us money, sex, friends and family. The enemy can only operate by distorting and twisting that which is good. It is good to be holy and walk in holiness but if we don't understand what holiness is and means we can easily become burdened down and carry around a weight of guilt that is not from the Lord but from the enemy. One thing the enemy likes to do to Christians is make them feel guilty for not doing enough for God. You watched TV tonight instead of praying, you spent money on a pleasure item instead of giving it to the poor, you only went to 2 church meetings this week but 4 were offered. You are never doing enough.
Matthew 26:8-13
When the disciples saw this, they were indignant.
"Why this waste?" they asked. "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."
Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman?
Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman?
She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.
When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.
I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world,
what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
You can be too holy when you are defining holiness as the number of things you do for God: you did 10 things for God this week, you are holy; you only did 3 things for God this week now you aren't holy. You can get yourself to the point where you are so focused on "doing things for the Lord" and "you saving the world" that you actually lose sight of the good and legitimate pleasures the Lord has created for you here on earth.
He is a good Father. What Father would give you gifts and not want you to be able to enjoy them? The disciples in the story above didn't hear what this woman had heard and didn't see what she had seen because they were too focused on building their kingdom that they missed everything that God had been trying to show them.
My challenge to you is to serve the Lord out of a place of love and not by being motivated by guilt to do the things you do. Learn to hear the voice of God (hint: it does not include condemnation) and let that lead you to do the things you do whether "in ministry" or just enjoying the daily life of just living. You can bring pleasure to the heart of the Father by enjoying life and the gifts that He has given to us.
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ReplyDeleteWait, now I'm feeling guilty about being happy that I shouldn't feel guilty... haha.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Jaime, for posting such a heart awakening to those of us, ME!, who sometimes walk out my faith, in guilt, when I know its the ploys of the enemy that I am listening to, instead of Jesus, when HE just says COME and lay your burdens down, NOT do something like LIFT them...or carry them... or work to let go of them.. He just says COME...ok, so my thoughts were not specifically about your blog tonight, but they have hit me hard sister... thank you so much for sharing your heart right now.
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