"For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; or hidden,
that shall not be known"-Matthew 10:26
that shall not be known"-Matthew 10:26
I had not turned to Matthew intentionally. In fact, I was heading towards Revelation. I just stared at the passage in amazement. Of course! God knew exactly what I needed to hear at the appropriate time. The goodness of the Lord always brings to light what is being kept a secret. Matthew is absolutely correct about that! God's omniscience. His light. The darkness can not escape Him.
This is true as a nation, corporately as a church body, and individually. The areas of our nation, church, and lives that need examination. If we do not address sin He will ultimately bring it to the forefront. To the surface. Always. It may not be immediately. But He will. In His time, bring our sin to light.
In a recovery program you go through steps to heal. Whether it is over spending, hoarding, food addiction, alcohol, drugs, sex addiction, pornography. Whatever it is you acknowledge you have a problem. You acknowledge you are powerless to it. You acknowledge you need God's help. You allow the sin, your darkest moments, to be exposed to the light. Why? Because there is no way to heal in the darkness. There must be light. You have to be able see where you've been in order to go forward.
What's interesting to me about this premise is that Matthew was so on point. Think about something you did as a kid. Or something you are currently doing that you wish you hadn't. It eats at you. You do everything you can to keep it hidden don't you? After all it's something you are not proud of.
For many the process is a battle. A war really. We really want the relationship with Christ. But we still want to live in this world. In this culture. Doing things that are unpleasing to God. And we know this. But we keep on doing so anyway. Charles Spurgeon describes sin brilliantly "When we think too lightly of sin, we think too lightly of the Savior."
God's grace is freely given. However it does not discount sin. I think we have that wrong. Yes, we are covered in His grace. But we still are called to present our sin, our darkness, to Him. To ask for forgiveness. On the flip side of the coin we don't need to leave Jesus hanging on the cross. We show our children grace probably dozens of times a week. However if they disobey us we expect them to come and tell us. To fess up. We forgive them and then guide them gracefully back on track. God expects the same from us. We can not continue to sin. Make excuses for it because we are covered in His grace.
The ultimate goal for all of us, as Christians, is to live our lives according to His will. To walk in this dark world shining as beacon of light for the lost. To understand from the depths of our souls that this life is temporal. Our forever home will be in Heaven with our Savior.
Time is short. What darkness do you have that needs some light shed upon it? We have a father in heaven who is always available to listen. Make amends. Ask for forgiveness. Shine brightly for others to see.
In a recovery program you go through steps to heal. Whether it is over spending, hoarding, food addiction, alcohol, drugs, sex addiction, pornography. Whatever it is you acknowledge you have a problem. You acknowledge you are powerless to it. You acknowledge you need God's help. You allow the sin, your darkest moments, to be exposed to the light. Why? Because there is no way to heal in the darkness. There must be light. You have to be able see where you've been in order to go forward.
What's interesting to me about this premise is that Matthew was so on point. Think about something you did as a kid. Or something you are currently doing that you wish you hadn't. It eats at you. You do everything you can to keep it hidden don't you? After all it's something you are not proud of.
For many the process is a battle. A war really. We really want the relationship with Christ. But we still want to live in this world. In this culture. Doing things that are unpleasing to God. And we know this. But we keep on doing so anyway. Charles Spurgeon describes sin brilliantly "When we think too lightly of sin, we think too lightly of the Savior."
God's grace is freely given. However it does not discount sin. I think we have that wrong. Yes, we are covered in His grace. But we still are called to present our sin, our darkness, to Him. To ask for forgiveness. On the flip side of the coin we don't need to leave Jesus hanging on the cross. We show our children grace probably dozens of times a week. However if they disobey us we expect them to come and tell us. To fess up. We forgive them and then guide them gracefully back on track. God expects the same from us. We can not continue to sin. Make excuses for it because we are covered in His grace.
The ultimate goal for all of us, as Christians, is to live our lives according to His will. To walk in this dark world shining as beacon of light for the lost. To understand from the depths of our souls that this life is temporal. Our forever home will be in Heaven with our Savior.
Time is short. What darkness do you have that needs some light shed upon it? We have a father in heaven who is always available to listen. Make amends. Ask for forgiveness. Shine brightly for others to see.
"And we also thank God continually because, when you received the
word of God, which you
heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God,
which is at work in you who believe.”—1 Thessalonians 2:13
heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God,
which is at work in you who believe.”—1 Thessalonians 2:13
