Sunday evening at church I heard an incredible message on Ephesians 4:24-31. I learned so much from the passage, but before the evangelist was done preaching, I started feeling a bit beat up by the Gospel.
We love it when we come away from a message supercharged. But what about when we see how sinful we truly are and realize we may not be as far down the sanctification process as we thought?
Thankfully, with a spirit of compassion and right on cue, the evangelist said that it's easy to come away from a passage like this feeling just like I was feeling--a bit beat up and like a puppy with his tail between his legs.
But if feeling beat up is the conclusion that I come to after a convicting passage of Scripture, I have come to the wrong conclusion.
Instead, when a passage convicts us, we are to take hope in the fact that the Gospel changes us. We don't stay the same when God's Word wedges its way into the crevices of our depraved soul.
Conviction+Change=Hope
If we are saved, we are constantly being changed into the image of God. The only way that change can take place is if we are confronted with our sin, confess it and ask God to teach us how we're supposed to live.
While reading through Proverbs 28 I came across these verses that I believe fit so aptly with the message I heard.
"People who cover over their sins will not prosper. But if they confess and forsake them, they will receive mercy. Blessed are those who have a tender conscience, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble." Proverbs 28:13-14
I know this study over the past month can make us feel a bit beat up because we were daily confronted with areas in which we need to change.
But there's hope in having those things brought to our attention because now, with the help of the Spirit, we can do something about them.
If we are struggling with our attitude towards our husband, we can ask Christ to teach us to respect others.
If we struggle with complaining, we can ask Christ to help us focus on being thankful instead.
If we are selfish and not looking for ways to serve our husband, there's hope in looking to the example of Christ who was the greatest servant our world has every encountered.
Denying we have struggles will get us nowhere. It's when we admit those struggles and turn from them that we have mercy.
Blessed are those with a tender conscience.
It's not a sign of weakness to ask for forgiveness from a spouse. It's the sign of a heart that is resting in the promises of God and following His ways for living rather than our own. That takes courage and strength, my friend, to live a life of faith like that.
I know some of you have commented that you have begun reading your Bible on a daily basis as of late. Nothing brings more joy to my heart to know that. Long after this series is done, you will keep growing and changing and becoming more like the God you love and serve as long as you stay connected to Him through His Word.
You may not see instant changes in yourself or in your marriage, but good change is promised. 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 "What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun! All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did."
Praying for you as you walk in newness of life and apply that change to your marriage. (Romans 6:4)
Join me tomorrow as we study Proverbs chapter 29 Just getting started on the series? Catch up with all the posts on my landing page between now and October 31.
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