If I am doing MORE for God - why am I feeling MORE guilty?
March 30th 2011 14:55
There is nothing worse than feeling guilty, especially when there is nothing more we can do to overcome the cause of that feeling. This does not mean we will not make the effort, but it does mean no amount of effort will remove the feeling. For many people, the heavier the feeling of guilt – the more effort they give. Finally, when they have no more energy to make further effort; they give up.
How does the church respond? Too often, the church reacts in a way that creates even MORE guilt. Read the Bible MORE, pray MORE, attend church MORE, give MORE…MORE, MORE, MORE. The reality is “nothing is left from which to give MORE”. Further, the guilt is now so heavy that giving MORE makes one feel worse rather than better. Why? Because no matter how much MORE we give, it is never enough.
Doing MORE, but never having done enough is to live with a focus on the law. When we focus on the law, we are brought under its condemnation – something the law does not have the right to do in the lives of believers. Why? Simple - Jesus has met every demand of the law on our behalf. When we strive to meet the demands of the law in order to overcome our feelings of guilt – we are striving to do what has already been done. If this sounds like a wasted effort – it is!
Jesus Himself said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5:17 If Jesus has completely fulfilled the law (and He has), it stands to reason there is no more of the law to be fulfilled.
God’s intent is for us to “live in the fulfillment of the law” rather than “living to fulfill the law.” When we “live in the fulfillment of the law”, the natural result is we become MORE Christ-like. When we come to the place where we fully recognize we are the product of Christ’s completed work on the cross, we walk out from under guilt and into spiritual liberty. Now the Christian life is no longer one of “Obligation – I have too”, but one of “Opportunity – I get too.” Now that sounds like freedom from guilt! MORE than that, it sounds Christ-like!
How does the church respond? Too often, the church reacts in a way that creates even MORE guilt. Read the Bible MORE, pray MORE, attend church MORE, give MORE…MORE, MORE, MORE. The reality is “nothing is left from which to give MORE”. Further, the guilt is now so heavy that giving MORE makes one feel worse rather than better. Why? Because no matter how much MORE we give, it is never enough.
Doing MORE, but never having done enough is to live with a focus on the law. When we focus on the law, we are brought under its condemnation – something the law does not have the right to do in the lives of believers. Why? Simple - Jesus has met every demand of the law on our behalf. When we strive to meet the demands of the law in order to overcome our feelings of guilt – we are striving to do what has already been done. If this sounds like a wasted effort – it is!
Jesus Himself said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5:17 If Jesus has completely fulfilled the law (and He has), it stands to reason there is no more of the law to be fulfilled.
God’s intent is for us to “live in the fulfillment of the law” rather than “living to fulfill the law.” When we “live in the fulfillment of the law”, the natural result is we become MORE Christ-like. When we come to the place where we fully recognize we are the product of Christ’s completed work on the cross, we walk out from under guilt and into spiritual liberty. Now the Christian life is no longer one of “Obligation – I have too”, but one of “Opportunity – I get too.” Now that sounds like freedom from guilt! MORE than that, it sounds Christ-like!
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