April 25, 2018 Wednesday

“For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.” (1Jo 3:20-24 NKJV)

            Guilt can destroy our joy, our life and even our soul!  Guilt can come from sin we have not dealt with, from sins we have confessed and received forgiveness or even from what others have done to us.  Let us look at each of these types of guilt.

Sin we have not dealt with – Here guilt is at its purpose God uses it for.  Guilt makes us aware not only of our sin but our need for forgiveness.  God calls us even at the very time we are most unworthy of grace and offers it to us through forgiveness available to us through Jesus Christ.

Sin we have received forgiveness for – God says in the Bible (which is God’s word and promise) that if we confess our sin God will not only forgive us but also cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Here guilt can be very destructive in that while we have God’s forgiveness we can destroy our joy and peace by feeling guilt for what is paid for by Jesus.  Holding on to our sin and feeling guilty could be a lack of faith in the work of Jesus.  But there is another side we often do not see for while we do need God’s forgiveness we also need to forgive ourselves.

From what others have done to us – When someone has hurt us, humiliated us or abused us verbally, physically or sexually we can hurt ourselves even more than others have because of the guilt we may feel.  As victims it is too easy to accept the guilt of others and slowly destroy our soul for what others are guilty of.  This type of guilt is so horrendous because it often drives us not only farther from God’s love and support but even from our own sanity.  This form of guilt can cause us to shut ourselves off from God and other who want to love and support us.  The guilt of others we hold onto in the end can destroy our lives to the point in fear and self loathing we cut ourselves off from the world and even cocoon ourselves by wrapping up in that guilt that is really not ours.

           

            Many of our fears and phobias come from our guilt for what we either did or didn’t do.  We can even attempt to take on godly responsibility by bearing a burden for what happened and the suffering others experienced. 

            Deal with your guilt by seeking God’s forgiveness, by forgiving ourselves or by letting go of our need to feeling responsible for others pain.  Take the time to deal with your guilt and feel the burden fall from you and be set free!

            Will you take the time today?  Will you begin the life long process of dealing with the guilt in your life?

            Today was better than yesterday but still was a bad day.  I am so far behind so many things but I am reminded of a message I shared with Ralph Lusby many years ago.  When Ralph was very weak and forced to sit in a chair all day he told me he despaired because of all he could no longer do.  I told Ralph the reason we were called human beings is because we are human because we are and not because we do!  Oh preacher, hear your own message!  Rebecca and Jonathan went to a movie tonight.