by John Fischer (used by permission) www.purposedrivenlife.com
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I was washing the windows in my son’s new apartment when I came across a good deal of dried paint blotches. They did a poor job of covering the windows when they spray painted these buildings. So I went out to the hardware store and picked up some single-edged razor blades—the only thing I know that will get this stuff off of windows.
Everything was going fine until about three windows into this project I pushed on the razor blade and felt a sharp pain in my index finger. In my haste I had picked up the razor wrong and I was pushing against a brand new blade with all the force of my bare finger. So I applied a band-aid, felt stupid, and went back to work. Minutes later, still berating myself for not noticing how to pick up a razor blade, I felt a sharp pain, this time in my back-up middle finger. Yep. I’d done it again, and I had done it while I was still thinking about how dumb I was to do it the first time.
Is your struggle with sin ever like this? You’re jumping all over yourself for falling as you fall right back in? Do you ever wonder how much patience God has for this kind of stupidity?
In Romans 2:3-4, Paul says, “Don’t you think that God will judge and condemn others for doing [wicked things] and not judge you when you do them?” Right about now you’re wondering how this is supposed to help the situation. But he goes on to say: “Don’t you realize how kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Or don’t you care? Can’t you see how kind He has been in giving you time to turn from your sin?”
Two things. Realize that God is very patient with us. He doesn’t expect instant change. He expects us to want to change and to try and change, trusting in His power in us to do it. But even then, there is a process to this. We will do stupid things. And then do them again. That doesn’t mean God leaves us or removes His love from us.
That’s where the second thing comes in. If we want God to give us a break, as it were, we have to be willing to give everyone else the same chance. You can’t receive mercy and not give it to others. That’s the one disqualification for mercy. That would be like me standing there with two fingers bandaged making fun of my son for hitting his thumb with a hammer… for the second time!
John Fischer is an author, speaker and song writer. For more of his writing,
visit www.purposedrivenlife.com
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Happens to me all the time and almost always after I have made a commitment to God not to fall into a particular weakness that plagues me. I find that I sink lower even before I am done with confessing and making a resolution. It makes me feel worthless, sinful and unworthy.
It’s a constant struggle to try and not commit the same sins over and over…seems like I am always asking forgiveness for the same things. But I find it a comfort to know that God has patience with me, more than I could ever have for someone. I can’t and won’t change overnight, but that’s ok because I have the desire to change, and God will help me.
The thing that amazes me about myself is that I will withhold forgiveness from a “repeat offender” as though I have the track record to be worthy of judging another. In reality, if anyone had the right to not tolerate falling into the same sin, it’s God. He is perfect and holy and yet He is so patient and merciful to me when I fail and fail again. When I reflect on who God is and how He walks with me in my imperfection, I am so convicted of my pride. Who am I not to forgive when I have been forgiven so much.