We can't go back to yesterday

"It is no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then." - Lewis Carroll

There is a profound truth in this statement! When one sincerely confesses our sins (of yesterday), and we seek to live in the grace of God today, we need to let go of the past. Sadly, there are many people who keep trying to dredge up the pain of the past, but through God's mercy we can move on into our future. 

"No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." - Philippians 4:12-13

Thought: What past mistakes keep you from moving forward with freedom?

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that you do not hold grudges against us. Teach us to let go of our pasts and to trust in your mercy in the future. Amen. 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

What hinders our relationship with Christ?

There are so many devout Christ-followers that we know so little about. One of the 13th century mystics, Mechthild of Magdeburg, wrote passionately concerning her love for Jesus. She desired to truly follow Christ and to eliminate all things that came between her and God.

"What hinders spiritual people most of all from complete perfection is that they pay so little attention to small sins. I tell you in truth: When I hold back a smile which would harm no one, or have a sourness in my heart which I tell to no one ... then my soul becomes so dark ... and my heart so cold that I must weep greatly."

This is an interesting take on our attitude to 'sins.' So often, we as Christians, like to focus on the bigger sins of others and forget the 'little sins' that trip us up on a daily basis.

Matthew 7:1-5 - “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

I made a mistake

For some reason my blogs have had a little bit of a hiccup of late - I thought I had sent them, but they were all in the "draft" column of the posts. I suppose it could just be the operator error - I am getting older you know :)

But, this brings me to one of my pet bug-bears... why can't we as people just admit that we make mistakes? Why do we always have to find something/someone else to blame? It is not as if we don't realise that we are imperfect. We know that we are fallible, but it seems that we have trouble admitting this to the rest of the world. Is it really that hard to say...

"I made a mistake. I am sorry!"

Advent is about remembering the coming of Jesus. It is also about reflecting on our inability to save ourselves. We all need to be rescued and offered another chance at life. We need to reflect on the fact that we can never be perfect in this lifetime (...which is hard for us perfectionists to admit).

Advent reminds me that Christ comes into our midst knowing that we are sinners, yet still offering us his grace and mercy (Romans 5:8).

"All of us have become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags..." - Isaiah 64:6

"Yet O' Lord, you are our Father,
We are the clay,
you are the potter,
we are all the work of your hand." - Isaiah 64:8

As we journey deeper into this season of Advent may we not be scared to admit that we all make mistakes. God knows our frailties and he offers to rescue us from our sins.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Seven modern Sins

Frederic Donaldson wrote an interesting piece on what he terms the "Seven Modern Sins." I think he is spot on and we would do well to be mindful of these sins. Let me know your thoughts on his list.

Politics without principles
Pleasures without conscience
Wealth without work
Knowledge without character
Industry without morality
Science without humanity
Worship without sacrifice.

It is interesting that 'suffering' is not spoken of much in Christian circles these days - it is almost as if suffering is an admission of Christian failure. However, Jesus speaks so much of the 'cost' of following him - implying suffering. 'Worship without sacrifice' is a dangerous place to be in.

Luke 9:23-25 - "Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.  What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?" 

Living in Grace
D3LM3