Do You Want to Say “No” to Jesus’ Touch? | CCEF

Do You Want to Say “No” to Jesus’ Touch? | CCEF

This blog post by Winston Smith, a biblical counselor and faculty member of CCEF so aptly shows how shame and pride causes us to want to hide even from Christ. And it challenges us to consider the fact that we cannot clean ourselves and must allow Christ to do it for us. The first step being acknowledging just how filthy we have become.

I couldn't help but cringe as I read the story Smith shared in his post. My face contorting at the shame and misery the man must have felt. Along with the anguish Smith was feeling as he came upon the gentleman lying helplessly there. I could feel the mixed emotions both men were experiencing, both knowing what must be done. Both realizing it was a filthy stinking mess that could not get cleaned up on it's own. The one trying to maintain the personal dignity of the other, and wanting to remove the shame. The helplessness of Smith to completely remove that shame the other was feeling. The two men changing the subject and talking about anything else (I must admit made me chuckle a bit, in a knowing way).

I could relate to this article since at times I have felt as though my sin was as awful as that filthy mess, being afraid to go to the Father with it. And yet, as Smith so clearly points out in this article the only way to remove the shame is to allow Jesus to clean me thoroughly.

Check out the post yourself and let me know what you think!

Shedding Labels

Yesterday, I was having a conversation with someone who shared with me that they are a very driven person.  I laughed and told them that I am the complete opposite of them, I am lazy.  They were surprised at what I had said, and had thought that I too was a driven person.  I was astonished at their response and simply said then it is by the grace of God and His work in me.  

I walked away in disbelief, me driven. No!  I'm lazy!  I've always took the easiest road and if I can get out of doing work I will.  Driven??? Me?!? How could that be?  When did that happen?  And obviously it did not carry over into every area of my life.  No, not me!  On and on went this conversation in my head until I spoke with a friend.  I told her what was said to me.  She said she agreed with their assessment and then proceeded to share with me why she thought so too. 

I received what she said and began to realize that this lazy, slow, quitter, slightly ADD, messy, disorganized, forgetful, never on time woman was starting to shed some labels.  I realized that I have worn these labels on me like a heavy suit of armor and they had weighed me down holding me back from change.  Now realizing that one section of armor was less heavy or noticeable has given me a renewed hope. I am changing!  It also made me think about how my focus has been on all the ways those labels still fit, when instead it should be on the ways in which the labels are falling off as God works His character in me.   

If God can change me to be driven in some areas of my life then He can do it in every area.  In other words if I can be driven when it comes to serving Him in the church then I can be driven (In a healthy balanced way) when it comes to cleaning the toilets in my home too!!!  A new hope has taken root in my heart and mind and it's not going to stay there if I go back to focusing on how heavy that armor of labels is and how impossible it is to shed them.  In fact I need a new label one that is light and replaces all others, one that is rooted in truth, and one that is given by my Father in heaven...

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things has become new.  2 Corinthians 5:17

New Creation! The old has passed away!   Yes, I love it!  What an awesome label!  I am a new creation and so are you when you believe in Jesus!  What an awesome truth!  What comfort!  Already I feel so much lighter!  How about you?

For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.   Philippians 2:13

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  Philippians 1:6

Hurray, it is not up to me!  I certainly have tried, only to fail again and again.  Praise God it is Him working in me as I cooperate with what He is doing.

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.    

1 Corinthians 15:56-58

What comfort these words are to my ears!  What hope!  Thank-you Jesus for loving us so!!!