Your Downfalls Don't Define You

So many times I thought my mistakes were what defined me. I thought my lying, my impure thoughts, my rude actions, my remarks, my anxiety, my distrust in people and in God, I thought all of those meant I was and am a horrible person. But as I've read the Bible and heard sermons, I've realized those mistakes, those temptations, they aren't who I am. I may have flaws, but it doesn't mean my whole character and heart are based on those trip ups. Rather Jesus has freed me from those things, He has shown me that I am worthy of being loved and of being saved.

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

Ephesians 2:8-10

Jesus defines us.

I used to judge people a lot, and sometimes I still do if I am being honest, but I am working towards judging less and moving towards loving more from a truth + grace standpoint. I've judged people based on their sins, and oh my goodness how wrong that is. I have been recently shown that your sin isn’t what defines you. To fall into temptation doesn’t mean you are that thing whole-heartily. You can grow from it, you can learn and move on. The hard part in this is that me and you both have to:

• 1st address the sin

• 2nd want to change

• 3rd open our heart to God so that he may renew our hearts and minds

This is where it gets tricky, because we can't just address the sin, then think it’s okay to stay in sin because God will love and forgive you anyways. Like yes, He will love and forgive you always, but He will feel neglected, dishonored, and unloved back. Imagine your friend says they’re sorry for lying to you, you forgive them, and then they go gossip and lie again. That would hurt you right? I know it would hurt me. So why is it that you and I think we can frolic around in sin and have no consequences? I understand we are sinful people, I 100% understand that, but the fact that sometimes we choose to avoid the problem and refuse Gods gift of grace and renewal, just so we can say, "well I am just doing me and can't help it." Like of course we can change, everything is subject to change, the only one with the exemption to change is Jesus, because He remains.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8

Like you know the facts, you know and understand and have experienced God’s love, and if you haven't I pray that you will soon, because to have Him in your life rooting for you is the best thing ever. But to those who know about Him and claim you live for Him, why would you still disobey? That lifestyle lonely and exhausting. I've been there, I tried so hard to just, do me, and it always failed. Every. Single. Time. So who are you to say it won't happen for you? And I am not saying you’re just a rotten person if you fall back into sin, no that is not what I am trying to say, because we all sin, I sin, you sin, it’s what being a human comes with. But what I am saying is, don’t become complacent in your sin, just because it’s hard to combat. I know it is hard, I know. I've dealt with my share of temptation and downfalls and it wasn’t pretty. But you know what? I didn’t give up, and I don’t give up. I know I’ll fall, that’s the human in me, but the Jesus in me craves for glory, craves for purity, craves for Heaven, and so I grow and I challenge my sin rather than let it conquer me. So I say to you today, challenge your temptations, don’t let them win, you got God on your side and He will define you! Not. Your. Sin.

“But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)”

Ephesians 2:4-5