05/04/2021
We speak frequently about those things that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit do to help us believe, advance us in our faith, and correct us, but there are things that are expected of us too as we grow in our love of God. Not the least of which is to live self-controlled lives; upright, and seeking to do what we have been commanded to do.
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,”
Titus 2:11-12 ESV
So often we stumble in the face of temptation, and when we do we might realize our predicament, and then, as we feel we have failed, simply give into it. In this moment our self-restraint is broken, and we proceed on into the sin that is our snare, listening as it calls out to us. Each of us can recall yielding to some form of temptation. Most of the time our spirit convicts us, and we find ourselves weeping, and asking for forgiveness at the throne of God, but sometimes we need someone who loves us to point out our lack of self-control, and the sin it has led us into. The only thing harder to bear than the pain of sin itself is that moment when we realize we have sinned, and the worst of these times is having someone else find it necessary to point them out to us.
“Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.””
Luke 17:3-4 ESV
My wife and I have only bought a new car once in our lives, and that was a small pickup truck; every other car we have owned has been used. So when we buy a car it typically has a blemish or two... or maybe three. We know they are there, but we choose to live with them. We ignore them, but there is a certain man in our lives who sees that we have a “new to us car”, and inspects it closely; then he points out each of those blemishes with great enthusiasm. When this happens we are reminded of something we have learned about ourselves, and our faith... having someone else point out our sins is painful, and can harm a relationship if we are not careful.
The Bible tells us to not only pay attention to ourselves, but to rebuke one another when we realize someone else is sinning...
“Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.””
Luke 17:3-4 ESV
But scripture also instructs us to do this gently... the object of correction is never to drive away the soul who has sinned as we self-righteously address the sin that is plaguing them. Our gentleness allows them space so that they can turn themselves around, then upon receiving forgiveness, and having regained self-control, they can be comfortable once again in the body of Christ.
“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”
2 Timothy 2:24-26 ESV
It is so much easier when we maintain self-control in the face of temptation, or in those cases when that has evaded us, to come to a place of self-realization, and ask the Lord’s forgiveness without the prompting of others, but at some point in our lives of faith we will slip, and we will sin... so we need to understand that when this has happened it is our responsibility to repair our relationship with the Lord, but that others around us are also tasked with helping us in this regard.
Likewise, we are also meant to maintain self-control when we ourselves are attempting to correct another brother or sister in Christ, and to treat them with the same gentle and loving care that a mother would treat her baby...
“But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.”
1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 ESV
In confronting sin in others we should always remember that correction is about another’s sin, and not our own righteousness. We must be careful when we rebuke the sin in others that we don’t fall into sin ourselves during the process.
“And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.””
Matthew 16:22-23 ESV
Think on this today. Meditate on how, and if, you are maintaining self-control over your life, and faith. Examine your heart in the correction of others, and determine how pure it is in this regard.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for helping us to maintain self-control over our faithfulness in the face of temptation. Thank you Father for teaching us to be kind, and gentle as we correct others, and even ourselves. Help us Holy Father to keep a path open between ourselves and you when we have stumbled, and lead us through our contrition, and your forgiveness, as we seek to repair our relationship with you. Open our eyes to our responsibility for the sins we have committed, but never let us lose sight of your grace that leads us past them. Always refresh our hearts l, and give us hope in Christ as we repent. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who doesn’t want to lose a single one of us to sin. Praised be your name for the love you showed the world in Jesus Christ, and for our self-control that allows us to walk with Him, and do as He commands. You are merciful Father, and instruct us to show mercy to others... especially those who need instruction in faith. Open our eyes inward as we search for righteousness, so that our own temptations and sins can be addressed with you. Keep us humble, gentle, and kind, in our faith, so that we will not drive away a single soul by our pious behavior, and a sense of self-righteousness. Hear our prayers of contrition Father, and forgive us, even as you do the worst of all sinners. Wash us clean in the blood of Jesus, and in this way see us worthy through Him to remain in your presence forevermore. Lavish your grace upon us, and seat us with Jesus at your throne.
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.”
Titus 2:11-15 ESV
Rich Forbes