hallelujah, we are free to struggle {an addition to "where fullness is found"}

Let's talk about last night's blog post, Where Fullness is Found. If you haven't read it yet, do it. Actually, don't even continue this one unless you've read my previous one.

I received so much positive feedback about Where Fullness is Found. I felt wholeheartedly that I approached the sensitive topic of sin in truth and love. However, I knew writing about that topic was going to encourage some and offend some. When was the last time someone asked you, "what do you want to talk about?" and you responded I'm excitement, "sin!"?! Ha, I think we can all agree to say that's never happened. Like I mentioned before, that blog was so difficult to write but it was so heavy on my heart. My intent was to show you that sin is so real but so is Jesus. That these things we seem to put all our focus on bring happiness, but only temporarily. My intent was to reveal to you the freedom and full satisfaction found in Jesus and Him only. If I portrayed anything less of that, please forgive me- I'm just a person. 

"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen." // 1 Timothy 1:15-17

Christ Jesus came INTO THIS WORLD to SAVE sinners. Not to condemn them, not to judge them, not to point the finger at them, but to SAVE them. He did this for the worst of sinners. The murderers, the adulterers, the drunkards, the prostitutes- Jesus came to save them. That's grace. That's love. That's freedom. We are called to respond the same. 

Save: 

• : to keep (someone or something) safe: to stop (someone or something) from dying or being hurt, damaged, or lost
• : to stop (something) from ending or failing : to make (something that is in danger of failing) successful

Notice how Timothy refers to himself as "the worst of sinners" not once, but twice. Jesus comes into this world not for the righteous, the perfect, the blameless, but for the worst of sinners. If that's not good news, I don't know what is. 

"I hope that as we interact with people, that the Gospel would get so deep in our hearts that as Timothy says, we would correct each other with gentleness knowing that God grants people the power to change. I wish that we would just call each other out while lifting each other up- pointing each other to the freedom we have. The freedom to fail and the freedom to change." // Mike Donehey

Hallelujah, we are free to struggle. Well, thank you Jesus for that. I struggle a lot, but the coolest thing is that when I fall, I fall on His grace. That when I am weak, when I'm struggling not to give into temptation, when I feel helpless, He is strong. His strength is what carries me through. I'm so grateful that I have been given the freedom to FAIL and the freedom to CHANGE. 

Sin is okay to talk about. We should be able to talk about sin and our struggles, speaking truth in love, holding others accountable, without being seen as judgemental, hypocritical or offensive. There's a difference. It seems that the sins we struggle with the most are the ones we're so defensive about. Usually, defensiveness is caused by conviction. That's good. Like Mike Donehey said, I wish that we would just call each other out while lifting each other up. Just try to understand what that would look like if we did that. Hearts would undoubtedly be changed. Accountability is so important and it's okay to correct others. The thing is, if we're not correcting others properly in love, truth and gentleness, no one is going to receive it.

My hope is that we would be aware to the facts that sin is everywhere, conviction is real, accountability is good, Jesus is full of grace and it's okay to struggle. 

Here are a few songs that came mind as I was writing tonight that I thought I'd share with you. xo

Grace // Tenth Avenue North

Losing // Tenth Avenue North

The Struggle // Tenth Avenue North

Don't Want to Live for Me // Moriah Peters

Forgiven and Loved // Jimmy Needham

Who You are // Unspoken