Tag: overcoming

Unto Perfection

Be perfect is the plain command of God to us all. (Mt 5:48) But who can be perfect? Is God setting us up for failure?

The only alternative is an arbitrarily imperfect standard, in other words, an acceptable amount of bondage to uncleanness and filth. (2Co 7:1) Besides the obvious difficulty inherent in clearly defining and effectively communicating such a standard, we’d expect it to encourage complacency in our struggle toward freedom. (2Ti 2:25-26)

If we’re concerned that God’s setting us up for failure, perhaps we’re deriving our self-worth and security from our performance. As if we’re hearing, “Be perfect … or I’ll reject you.” In other words, this command will only be a problem if we’re being legalistic, trying to earn God’s love.

God’s love is unconditional; He loves everyone, and His love is what desires our perfection. (2Co 13:9) God wants the best for us, and there’s a big difference between being loved and being accepted and approved. (2Co 5:9) We don’t want to be ashamed before Him when He comes (1Jn 2:28); there’s no amount of sin we’ll be glad to still be hindered by when we stand before Him; we’ll want to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Mt 25:23)

So, knowing we’re already accepted in Christ as God’s beloved children (Ep 1:6), we can focus on improving (Php 3:13), drawing ever closer to God, asking Him to show us where we’re still not meeting the mark (Ps 139:23-24), as God calls us to be completely free of the bondage of sin. (Jn 8:34-36)

And when He shows us a next step in holiness that seems impossible from here, the fact that He’s calling us forward gives us hope that He will accomplish this in us and enable us to get there. (Php 1:6) Then as we strive toward the mark (Php 3:14), He actually does do in us what we could never do on our own. (Co 1:29)

Ultimately, this wisdom of God motivates and empowers us to realize higher levels of holiness, well beyond what we can realistically envision (Ep 3:20-21), which is much better for us and more glorifying to God. (1Pe 1:7) He is able and willing to present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy (Ju 24), we shouldn’t settle for less. (Ep 4:13)

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To Lust

Lust is a challenging topic for all of us, especially for men; sexual addictions are much more common than we might think, even among Christian leaders. Accountability groups often fail as men confess helplessness and continue in mutual brokenness. Rather than exhorting both wives and husbands in proper marital duty, or offering any practical help for singles, Churches often drive shame into silence, resentment and bitterness. Real solutions are rare indeed.

To find healing we must [1] identify sin biblically, [2] expose the lies empowering lust, [3] find repentance to acknowledge the truth, and then [4] recover ourselves from spiritual capativity. (2Ti 2:25-26)

Lust is desire orienting our will to obtain what’s forbidden, such that (when plausible) we devise a plan to acquire it, intending to execute. (Ja 1:14-15) So, a man who’s checking out a married woman isn’t lusting until he devises a plan to entice her and commits to doing so. Guilt is about intent: what we purpose in our hearts (Mt 5:28), and nothing else.

But why do we lust? If it were just physics men wouldn’t lose interest in disrespectful, unfaithful women (Pr 30:21,23a); kept women wouldn’t flirt and seduce (Pr 23:28): the spirituality of sexuality drives lust – we’re trying to fill a spiritual vacuum. Though the wicked domineer and abuse others, decent souls seek one-flesh intimacy, love and respect; it’s built into our DNA. (Ge 2:18) Sex is a shadow, a pale reflection of the connection we all long for in God. (Ep 5:32)

When we aren’t fulfilled in either God or our spouse we’re tempted to seek elsewhere. (1Co 7:15) We fall for the lie that the stranger will satisfy (Pr 5:3), but the well is toxic. (4-5)

To heal the shallow appeal of lasciviousness we must first deal with our lack of divine intimacy (Eph 4:17-19), and begin abiding in God until this primal need for love and acceptance is being met by God at the deepest levels. (Ps 73:25) This is what we’re made for: nothing else can satisfy. (Ep 3:19)

Convinced that only God can meet our ultimate need for love, respect, security and acceptance, we recover ourselves from spiritual captivity by walking this out, ordering our thoughts and actions to reflect and align with this reality. (Ps 119:9) And as we seek, we find. (Mt 7:8) Only then may we bring the strength and health into our relationships that God intended, and be the blessings God’s designed us to be, rather than desperate, craving souls longing to be fed and nurtured.

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