Guilt

Happy Sunday!

Bishop Alexis A. Thomas continued his series, "7 Deadly Emotions" today with emotion number six "Guilt".He used Luke 15:20-21 and Galatians 6:1. Bishop entitled the message, "I'm Guilty, but I'm Not Guilty!"

We are fascinated with television shows about Law and Order. We are drawn to courtroom dramas, whether real or fiction. We want to believe that we can judge whether the defendant is innocent or guilty. So many times, I have been caught screaming at the television as if the characters can hear me. "He's guilty! I just know it!" This is nothing new! Jesus even had to warn his disciples, "Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor." Matthew 7:1-5 (Message Translation)

Luke 15 tells of about three lost things; a sheep, a coin, and a son. Read it for yourself. The sheep got lost because of his nature. He wandered too far away and couldn't find his way back. Jesus asked the people if they would leave the 99 sheep and look for the lost one. Of course they would and Jesus said, "Count on it—there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue." Luke 15:7 (Message Translation)

The coin was lost because of the negligence of another person. If you have ever been hurt or disappointed by church folk, or folk in general, you will understand how this coin felt. It wasn't even his fault, but he was lost...lost in the house! But even though the coin was lost in the house, it was still very valuable to the woman. You've probably seen the demonstration with the hundred dollar bill. The team leader or preacher shows you a crisp clean hundred dollar bill. He asks if anyone wants it. Of course, everyone does! He crumbles the bill up, and then he asks again. Yes, we still want it! He steps on it and attempts to smash it into the floor. Yes, we still want that hundred dollar bill! WHY? I'm so glad you asked. The value of the bill was not diminished by what it had been through! It was still worth one hundred dollars! GUILT is used by the enemy to trick you into believing that because you have made a mistake you aren't valuable. DON'T listen to the enemy! You are so precious! So valuable that God gave Jesus as a sacrifice for all the horrible things you may have done and any dirty thing you could ever do in the future! Romans 5:8 says, "God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." (New Living Translation) Did you get that? God didn't wait for us to get ourselves together to send Jesus. He sent Jesus while we were still in the wrong!

The third thing lost in the 15th Chapter of Luke, was a son. The son left by choice! The son was convinced that he knew more than his father. He wanted to see the world and live it up! He found out that it's hard out there for a sinner! As my mother-in-law, Minnie Pruitt used to say, "All that glitters ain't gold!" Life is hard for everyone, but Christians get help and support from our Father God. What? You don't believe me! Read this, "The righteous person has many troubles, but the Lord rescues him from all of them." Psalm 34:19 (God's Word Translation)

Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (King James Version) We have all sinned! Of course we have our own rating system for sin. Murder, Adultery, and Stealing rate high on our imaginary sin scale...but what about the over 600 other commandments in the bible? Proverbs 6:16-19 amazed me years ago when I first read it...Listen..."Here are six things God hates, and one more that he loathes with a passion: eyes that are arrogant, a tongue that lies, hands that murder the innocent, a heart that hatches evil plots, feet that race down a wicked track, a mouth that lies under oath, a troublemaker in the family." (Message Translation)

Perhaps, you didn't see yourself in that scripture, but keep reading and like The Apostle James said, "But you must never stop looking at the perfect law that sets you free. God will bless you in everything you do, if you listen and obey, and don’t just hear and forget." (Contemporary English Version)

I'm guilty but, I'm not guilty! Jesus paid the price so I could walk free. He doesn't remind me about what I did or condemn me..."No condemnation now hangs over the head of those who are “in” Jesus Christ. For the new spiritual principle of life “in” Christ lifts me out of the old vicious circle of sin and death." Romans 8:1(Phillips Translation)

Don't let the enemy torture you with GUILT!

Love and prayers, Cynthia