WHAT DOES A PERFECT CHRISTIAN LIFE LOOK LIKE?

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One of the strongest reasons many children of God turn away from Him is that they are embarrassed about how often they go back to rededicate their lives after falling into the same sin again and again. They then conclude that this "born-again Christian" life is not for them after all.

Truly, it is not easy to be all prim and proper at all times — never to be caught exchanging angry words with annoying folks online, never to be seen having marital issues, never to be caught in a white lie. But, thankfully, none of these are what fundamentally make you a Christian. What makes you one is, first of all, the desire to please God ("desire" being the operative word here).

Christians are a moving mass of paradox — living in a flesh that yearns for carnal satisfaction but carrying a heart that yearns for God. So how you know you are a child of God who is loved regardless is that you feel bad when you do wrong. That feeling is not there for condemnation. It is there to steer you back to the cross where love, forgiveness, and grace to do better await you.

And what happens after you've been forgiven is that you CONTINUE your journey to wholeness, your journey to heaven, from where you left off. No, you don't go back to "start afresh." You don't go back to get another brand-new white robe from God that signifies you are holy again. Your human effort at perfection is not what keeps your robe untainted or makes you a perfect Christian; it is the blood of Jesus. It cleanses you and makes you as white as snow.

So whether you fall ten or hundred times as a child of God, don't beat yourself up. Don't give up or go back to the starting point. Just keep going forward. Seek forgiveness. Attend fellowship. Sing to God in the choir. Talk to Him as often as you used to.

The Christian's journey is one filled with temptations, mistakes (some of them grievous and shameful), forgiveness, and lessons. But the farther you go on the journey, the more evident Christ's work in you becomes. You then suddenly realise that you no longer struggle with some of the bad habits and attitudes you once struggled with.

So, beloved, trust Christ to do His work in you. Don't rush him and don't rush yourself either.

PS: Now tell me, when are you coming back to your Father? He's not mad at you. In fact, He and I are waiting to receive you. 😁💓


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