This week I have been in
several discussions about this freedom that Christ was talking about in John 8:31-32 "You are
truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know
the truth, and the truth will set you free." (NLT). Knowing
the Truth is a relationship with the Person known as the Truth. The Truth’s teachings are about us. Who we are, our identity in Him –the whole
Book is to teach us about who we are in His sight. Now we learn to agree with Him about who He
says we already are.
We seem to have two
options: [1] a focus on our sin and unending pursuit of repentance, [2] or that
God has completed the work of our righteousness and we are already in right
standing with Him –unconditionally loved, accepted, forgiven, and
empowered. One is sin-consciousness and the
other choice is righteousness-consciousness.
As it appears to be a
universal truth (kinda like gravity) whatever we focus on shows up in our
lives. Focus on our working to overcome
our sin and sin nature and the result is …more sin. Focus on our righteousness in Christ and guess
what we get more of? I’m making a choice
in 2013 to spend more time and energy being grateful for what God has done
verses what I need to do better, work harder, strive more, fret more, …try
harder, fail, feel bad, try harder… and so on in a vicious cycle.
I had lunch with a
mentor of mine this week. He said it
like this, “Righteousness-consciousness is more important but way less
prevalent that sin-consciousness. Most church-things are more about being
conscious of our failings than our righteousness. Or about His Grace.”
He also planted a great
thought. Sin-consciousness is guilt and
is focus in the past, righteous-consciousness is about my potential and call of
God for my future. One keeps me backward
thinking and the other pressing on toward whatever God has for me next!
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