Thank you for this word of encouragement, Pastor Scott. It’s so easy - in fact it’s a powerful weapon of the enemy - to think that we are alone in our duplicity and shortcomings. This was a good reminder for me to push onward.
Scott, whenever I read your blog I think, "I relate to this guy so well" and "I really need to order some of his books." Thank you for honestly sharing the reality of being a work-in-progress.
"Grace is powerful enough to erase your guilt. Grace is big enough to cover your shame. Grace is real enough to heal your relationships. Grace is strong enough to hold you up when you’re weak. Grace is sweet enough to cure your bitterness. Grace is satisfying enough to deal with your disappointment. Grace is beautiful enough to redeem your brokenness."
You’ve posted versions of this several times - and each time I am so thankful to be reminded yet again that I’m not the only follower of Jesus who feels this way. I’ve even written and spoken a personalized version of this myself, believing it’s important to my own spiritual formation and the formation of others to hear that the “struggle is real” and yet Christ pursues us anyway. Grace upon grace upon grace, without end, Amen. Thank you, Scott, for continuing to write!
Scott, thank you for always pointing first to your struggles and then giving us wise words to chew on. For many years what I heard in church was about “the stalwarts of faith” and how we needed to strive for that perfection.
Your writings and doing a deep dive study into OT & NT through BSF was what I needed to keep me in the faith and not walk away. However, like Paul said -“ I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.” But now I can praise God for His love and grace to a sinner like me.
I recently heard Jerram Barrs say that the closer we grow to Jesus, the more we are made aware of our sinfulness. I was grateful to hear this as I was quite discouraged at the awareness of sin in me that I thought was gone. 😔 I suppose it helps me lean closer into Jesus and trusting His complete work AND realizing….He alone can change me.
"Ironically, the more like Jesus we become, the less like Jesus we realize that we are." Amen.
Most days, I can't help but stare helplessly at my flaws and wonder how I'll ever manage to overcome them.
The other days, when I manage to remember to look at Jesus I realize I don't need to be perfect, I just need to be His.
In any case, it can't hurt to strive to be better than I was yesterday and better tomorrow than I am today.
As long as I'm making progress, it takes the pressure off from not being perfect.
Progress > Perfection.
You nailed it brother…right to the Cross.
Thank you for this word of encouragement, Pastor Scott. It’s so easy - in fact it’s a powerful weapon of the enemy - to think that we are alone in our duplicity and shortcomings. This was a good reminder for me to push onward.
Scott, whenever I read your blog I think, "I relate to this guy so well" and "I really need to order some of his books." Thank you for honestly sharing the reality of being a work-in-progress.
Thank you... you made me think of:
GRACE is > all my faults
"Grace is powerful enough to erase your guilt. Grace is big enough to cover your shame. Grace is real enough to heal your relationships. Grace is strong enough to hold you up when you’re weak. Grace is sweet enough to cure your bitterness. Grace is satisfying enough to deal with your disappointment. Grace is beautiful enough to redeem your brokenness."
-Kyle Idleman
Grace indeed. It's a beautiful thing.
" He looked beyond my faults
and saw my need... "
-Andrae Crouch
You’ve posted versions of this several times - and each time I am so thankful to be reminded yet again that I’m not the only follower of Jesus who feels this way. I’ve even written and spoken a personalized version of this myself, believing it’s important to my own spiritual formation and the formation of others to hear that the “struggle is real” and yet Christ pursues us anyway. Grace upon grace upon grace, without end, Amen. Thank you, Scott, for continuing to write!
Well said, Susan🙋♀️
Scott, thank you for always pointing first to your struggles and then giving us wise words to chew on. For many years what I heard in church was about “the stalwarts of faith” and how we needed to strive for that perfection.
Your writings and doing a deep dive study into OT & NT through BSF was what I needed to keep me in the faith and not walk away. However, like Paul said -“ I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.” But now I can praise God for His love and grace to a sinner like me.
A timely word - thank you.
I recently heard Jerram Barrs say that the closer we grow to Jesus, the more we are made aware of our sinfulness. I was grateful to hear this as I was quite discouraged at the awareness of sin in me that I thought was gone. 😔 I suppose it helps me lean closer into Jesus and trusting His complete work AND realizing….He alone can change me.
https://youtu.be/R0cE2rqQXqc?si=cu-D93KddMzdG_uu
Thank you for expressing so powerfully the struggle I feel and have experienced since October 11th 1976!
I am keeping this and sharing it it’s a treasure!
Now please give us part two 😊
The path to growing and make it fast I don’t have much time left 😊!
I want patience and want it now!