March 10, 2014 Divided Loyalty (1)

Divided Loyalty (1)

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.  (Galatians 5:1 NKJV)

We often feel awkward about bringing our recurring sins before God.  We may be embarrassed by the number of times we have had to deal with the same issues, -- issues that stubbornly remain and never seem to get washed away.  What is going on?  Why can’t we beat this problem?  What will it take for us to find solid ground on which to build a firm and satisfying life with Jesus Christ, in recovery?

The slogan, “If nothing changes, nothing changes” is so true.  Habits are habits until the habit is changed.  Each time we find ourselves coming back from the “same old failure” we need to reassess what we are holding back.  We need to use this opportunity to let God take us deeper into our buried pain and allow His forgiveness and healing to change our hearts.  We need to ask ourselves what is the resentment, the hatred, the fear, the pain, or the shame that we are seeking to cover with our addictive behaviour.  God invites us to a time of healing grief where we must humble ourselves and reveal all that is troubling our hearts.  Exposing the dark places of our soul, that no one but God knows about, will bring freedom from the bondage we have been enduring.  The truth will set us free and our sadness will be turned to laughter and our gloom into joy. 

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. (James 4:7-10 NLT)

Sometimes we just want to talk about what we have done but are not truly repentant.  Perhaps we believe and have told ourselves that we would not have done “this or that” except for the fact that “this or that” occurred and drove us to do what we did.  God says to us “Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief.  (James 4:9 NLT)  We need to accept the fact that responsibility for what we have done lies solely with us.

Are you willing to admit and repent of your faults today?  Are you willing to humble yourself before God and let Him lift you up in honour?  If you come to terms with what you have done, and truly repent, your heart for the ways of God will no longer be divided and you will receive new life from Him.

©2014 Partners in Hope