Have you ever “messed up” as a follower of Jesus? Believe it or not, me too. So you are in good company. Now when you and I “mess up” in our sojourn of faith here on earth, how should we react? Should we panic and be afraid? Run away from the church family back to the world? Maybe hide in the basement and cry? Those may sound familiar because we have done them. However, those are not the solution.
On the contrary, what about coming clean with God and disclosing to others in the Gospel Community that you have “messed up”.This is an opportunity to be encouraged by those who love you. As your church family receives you with the Gospel of grace, they help you find healing for your soul. James, the Lord’s brother, writes; “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16).
Well, the Apostle Paul “messed up” too and confessed to the believers in Rome. He writes “I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good, for I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:21–24). If he stopped there, we would all feel like sin has the upper hand in our lives. But he goes on to answer, “who” will deliver him when he “messed up”. In the next verse; “I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin” (Romans 7:25)
Jesus is the redeemer of every failure, so do not lose heart and keep pressing forward. Paul goes on to say; “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) Don’t forget that Jesus defeated your sin on the cross when you start feeling overwhelmed by your sin. Remember, “For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.” (1 John 3:20) One of the most important things to remember when we fail is God has more than enough grace for the undeserving sinner. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1) Let that Gospel truth set you free!