Abide Above ...

1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Mathew 7:1-2 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
2 Corinthians 5:14-16 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh …

"A young preacher was called out of a life of sin to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. While in the pulpit one day, he received a note in which someone had written all his past sins. In addition it read, "Aren't you ashamed of yourself? And you're up there telling people to get right with God!" Do you know what the young preacher did? He read that note, bowed his head in prayer, stood up and said, "Ladies and gentleman I have received a note, and here is what it says." Then, in front of that whole crowd, he read every one of those sins. Then he said this: "Yes, I am ashamed of myself, but I am not ashamed of my Savior!" From “Past Sins by Adrian Rogers” … thanks to the Old Geezer.

Why is it that so many of us have a hard time confessing our sins like the preacher easily did. Unlike the preacher, we only need to confess them to the Lord and ask for his forgiveness, not the whole congregation. His promises to us are unconditional and absolute. Our sins past present and future are forgiven in Christ. Unfortunately, many choose to go ahead and do whatever they wish and assume they will be forgiven anyway. But that is foolishness, because God will not be mocked. We will suffer consequences here and now and into eternity. 1 Corinthians 3: 15-17 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are. Christians will suffer loss for doing whatever they wish during the remainder of their life here on earth. As noted previously, over ninety percent of Christians surveyed admit that they are carnal Christians. How ignorant can they be to allow this to continue without confessing to God and obtaining his forgiveness?

And then there is another group of Christians like the person in the story above, who handed the pastor the note, and who often go through life judging others and “recognizing others according to the flesh.” Think about it, are you guilty of judging others? No …you say? But wait, are you holding something against anyone? Have you gossiped about anyone? Have you said things about others that were unloving? Do you have bitterness towards someone? Have you sinned and gotten away with it and not asked God for forgiveness? Are you envious of anyone? Have you wronged someone and not asked for their forgiveness? Are you guilty of not even paying attention to what Jesus wants you to do and who he wants you to be … so that you can have a false positive feeling about yourself and your walk with Christ? Is there anything that you know Christ would advise you to do if you were talking to Him today that you just choose not to do? Do you have any sins of omission?

Wow ... this is heavy, and I assure you that my intent here is not to put you on a guilt trip. But, the intent is to cause everyone to do a self analysis. Some would say, Bob you are being negative here. If true, I am in good company with Jesus, Paul and James.To be a biblically correct encourager is not to tell people what you think they want to hear, but rather what you think God would want them to hear. Many believers go through their whole lives judging others based on who they perceive them to be or who they knew them to be sometime in the past and then they treat them accordingly … and this is sin. This is the type of sin Jesus despises the most as demonstrated by his confrontations of the Pharisees. Jesus wants us to be this person: "Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh." The encouragement for you and me here, can come in the same way it has come to the pastor in the story above. Whatever it is that you are hiding from; or whatever you are bitterly holding onto, confess it to Christ. He will forgive you and cleanse you "white as snow" and you can enter into his rest ... living above the cares, worries, anger, and evil that are so prevalent in this world. We truly can Abide Above … here and now.

What are some past or current sins in your life that are holding you back from fully proclaiming God's power to others?
Confess them and bury them in His sea of forgetfulness.

Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

John 15: 11-12 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.
God Bless You My Friends, Bob