Rejoice:

Read:

Psalms 4:1 O God, you have declared me perfect in your eyes;

Inner monologue:

Wow… what a cool truth! He has declared us perfect, regardless of how we see ourselves at times. So. BACK UP BRO so what if I ran over your toe with my car, or poked you in the eye every time I see you. I am perfect and you can’t say diddly about it.

Outer monologue?:

Maybe not the best interpretation eh? ACTUALLY this is like a judge saying “you are innocent and are not being found guilty for arson due to burning down the church because you started a campfire in the middle of it just to have ‘good footage’ for the kids stream.” You may not be actually innocent when it comes to committing the action, but they deemed you mentally incapable of seeing how terrible your actions were, and now are not going to punish you for those mistakes. Your intention was not to hurt, but you made a foolish mistake. Not me, I didn’t do that… 

You are mentally incapable of producing constant, 100% of the time righteousness. So, in your inability, God sent another to be in your stead. Jesus paid for my sins, my inability to do things correct constantly. That’s what I told the judge when they asked “why shouldn’t you be put in jail for burning down the church?” On a side note, anyone know good builder? Someone who can build a church in a couple days? Gotta deadline… for Sunday. Asking for a friend. 

He has judicially declared you perfect, which doesn’t mean everything you do is perfect. Instead, this means He isn’t going to hold your mistakes against you. You cannot justify your ridiculous actions under “I am perfect”… You cannot live in sin and say “well I’ve been covered!” However, you need not worry about if your robe is clean enough to enter eternity with Him versus Hell. Instead, you can bank on that declared perfection. Just like how I am not now going to jail for 15 years due to my mistake, you don’t have to worry constantly about your sins putting you in prison. Now there will be present penalties due to the experiences of our sins, but the ultimate payment for your sins has been covered. 

It’s a difficult paradigm to navigate: how are we called to stop sinning, but simultaneously told He knows we cannot stop sinning… #confusing? Well… John tells us “No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning.” There you go, easy enough right?

Still confused? I’m sure YOU aren’t but someone else is, so: it says practices sinning, keeps on sinning, etc. Squirrel.

We are called to work with the Spirit (see Romans 8) to avoid making sins a defining characteristic of our lives. Mistakes are not “practicing.” Slipping, falling, that isn’t the same as practicing how to meet the ground… it is not something we plan to do and then initiate. Also, YOU cannot stop sinning, only the Spirit who dwells within you can do that. 

So… don’t practice falling. It will hurt. Practice dwelling with Him and THERE you will find freedom from habitual sin, not every mistake, but strongholds and habitual sin. 

Do you think I’m crazy for having conversations with myself? Read the Psalms… David did it too 😀

 

³ Mark this well: The Lord has set apart the redeemed for himself. Therefore he will listen to me and answer when I call to him. ⁴ Stand before the Lord in awe, and do not sin against him. Lie quietly upon your bed in silent meditation. ⁵ Put your trust in the Lord, and offer him pleasing sacrifices.

⁶ Many say that God will never help us. Prove them wrong, O Lord, by letting the light of your face shine down upon us. ⁷ Yes, the gladness you have given me is far greater than their joys at harvest time as they gaze at their bountiful crops. ⁸ I will lie down in peace and sleep, for though I am alone, O Lord, you will keep me safe.

Respond:

Spend 1 minute asking God to help my weirdness connect with you… Then spend 1 minute thanking Him for declaring us perfect even when He knew we would continue to fail. THENNN spend 2 minutes asking God how you can use your imperfections to connect with others.

Relate:

I am weird, maybe you are too. Let’s stop hiding our true selves and fleshly imperfections and instead let those who connect, connect, and not worry about people who don’t. If you hide who God made you to be you will end up leaving those who DO connect with you wandering around aimlessly wanting someone to connect with. Jesus was weird to lots of people. LET THE WEIRDOS RISE! I mean… *sprints away*