The Struggle to Measure Up

One thing is sure; we are not strong in and of our self.  Though we may subscribe to goodness and the idea of treating others as we want to be treated, character is what we are when no-one is looking—the true test of moral fiber.

Innocent as it may seem to natural, carnal thinking; telling a little, white lie, for example, is sin.  It will have its day in court—having its own judgment—death. 

(Revelation 21:8), “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Allowing one’s body to rule over a sound, inner conscience, which I believe is the voice of the Holy Spirit; and adhering to acts of depravity, spells ‘disobedience’.  This willful disregard to right thinking is unacceptable to God.  The key word here is ‘willful’.  Every person is at liberty to choose right or wrong; to adhere to the teachings of the Bible or not.  We have the freedom of choice.

(1 Corinthians 6:17-19), “But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.”  vs.18, “Flee sexual immorality.  Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.”  vs.19 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?”  vs.20 “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

How then can a person put off a sinful nature to measure up to the holiness of Jesus?  Some people exclaim, “It is a struggle!”  The Bible teaches that we are to flee temptation, but the glamour of sin is hard to resist when people try to run from it within their own strength.  Without God’s help it is impossible to restrain oneself from the glitz of temptation, because of human frailties and individual weaknesses.

In my pastor’s sermon last Sunday he stated that Joseph, the son of Jacob, literally ran from temptation when a married woman tried to seduce him, (Genesis 39:12), whereas, King David, because of unrestrained lust, yielded to temptation and lay with another man’s wife.  He then had her husband killed to cover up his transgression after learning that Bathsheba had become pregnant with David’s child, (2 Samuel 11:4). 

How can a person run from temptation when it draws them like a magnet?  Remember, to be tempted is not sin; we are all tempted.  It becomes sin when we entertain immoral thoughts and surrender to fleshly desires, thus, submitting to wrong doing.  This allows sin to come to the forefront.  These acts of disobedience produce regrets and condemnation—sin takes top billing.

Anytime a person colors outside the lines of ‘self-image’, sin is knocking at the door.  It is far better to evaluate the end result of carelessness than to end up with a self-portrait resembling death.

(Colossians 3:1-2) “If then you were raised with Christ; seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God.”  vs.2 “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

God provides a way out of any situation where there seems to be no way.  It is up to the individual being tempted to look for the escape route and then take it.  God is our strength by which we are able to stand against the devil, the enemy of our soul.   

(Corinthians 10:13), “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

To some Christian’s way of thinking it is a struggle to measure up to the attributes of Jesus.  Is this not an attitude or indication of trying to achieve perfection on their own when thoughts like this occur?  They negate the power of the Holy Spirit in their life when they entertain such thoughts.  We are all weak, but He is strong, and that’s what makes the difference.

(Philippians 4:13), “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

When we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth, the struggle to measure up subsides, because living for Jesus is a way of life, not a drudgery of dos and don’ts.

(1 John 1:7), “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd