Addiction Or Grace (2)
Friday February 21, 2014
ADDICTION OR GRACE (2) The principle is simple: If we want to behave in a more loving way we have to know that we ourselves are loved. Love is the very essence of God. Living in loving relationship with God and others is God’s plan for us.
Dear friends, we should love each other, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has become God’s child. And so everyone who loves knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love to us: He sent his only Son into the world to give us life through him. (1 John 4:7-9 ERV)
Our behaviour often reflects what we believe about God. When we don’t get what we want, we believe God doesn’t care for us. When we don’t feel loved, we believe we’re just not good enough to be loved by God or anyone else. Believing thoughts like these drives us to seek love in harmful relationships, practices and ultimately substances. Initially we may not realize the impact of our actions but the discontent and anxiety within us will lead us down the path to our substance of choice. The path may be work, sex, gambling, spending, alcohol, rage, prescription or street drugs etc.
In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls, but those who would preserve their life stay far from them. (Proverbs 11:5 NIV)
The truth is that love and grace are rooted in God. Because God is love He gives gifts that are unique to each individual. God has been pursuing us with His love even while we may have been running away, and, He does it without accusation or condemnation. Whatever we substitute for God’s best is a counterfeit and sooner or later we will come to know it doesn’t satisfy.
Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. (Isaiah 55:2 NLT)
How do we prevent relapse into addictive behaviour and destructive lifestyles and finally live in love and grace? Strangely, we have to stop focusing on “not picking up" and focus instead on noticing God’s goodness in us, and around us. We have to stop focusing on our own thoughts and behaviours and choose to seek God and His ways. We must consider the love and faithfulness of God to help us stand firm. We must learn to receive that love and not dwell on what happened 5 minutes ago or 5 years ago.
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV)
Today, are you willing to trust God with your future? He is a trustworthy God and faithful in all His ways.
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