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"When we allow things into our lives that aren’t righteous there is no condemnation because of Christ. He has already done all we need to let go of any sense of condemnation that comes our way."
As quoted from the book "Victor - Breaking Free From a Victim-Based Society" by John H. Hovis Page 59.
Ok - quiz time. Ready? Today's quiz is a one question exercise in grading ourselves. I would like you to rate yourself on a scale of 1-10. One is the absolute worst you could possibly be at this question and ten is your absolute best. Don't worry, no one is going to know what you give yourself so be honest with yourself. Got it? OK - Here we go.
On a scale of one to ten how do you think God would rate your current walk with Him? In other words, how do you think God sees you as being a son or daughter of the King?
What's your number? There has been days when I'm sure God would think I'm in negative territory. Zero doesn't even come close to how bad of a son I feel I am at times. Then there are those days that just seem to be clicking. Maybe, just maybe, I'm topping out over the 8 range on those days?
Truth is, that if you are like me and chose a number less than a perfect ten, you are flirting with victim thinking in your life. How can that be, you might ask. I know a lot of people who are pretty powerful Christians, but none of them come close to a ten on any kind of a consistent basis. How can I say that God sees us as a ten?
It is because He sees us through the finished work of Jesus Christ. His rating of us isn't based on our actions it is based on the fact that Jesus is a perfect ten. Faith in Christ makes it possible for us to be just as perfect even when our lives are anything but perfect.
That's the point when it comes to victor living. We aren't victors because of what we have done or will do. We are victors because of what God has done for us. Wasting time to try and earn what is freely given is a definition of insanity that we all need to get more fully into our lives.
You see, it is because of an interesting word that we fall into the trap of grading ourselves lower than what God sees our lives to be. That word that takes us off track is condemnation. Condemnation comes when someone feels strong disapproval of what we are doing. Worse than that, condemnation has a lot to do with punishment for living in such a way as to make disapproval something someone could even consider.
We see our lives as falling short in so many ways. And, why wouldn't we? Compared to a perfect God, who could ever measure up to standards like that. If God expected us to be perfect like He is perfect, we would be in a world of hurt. Thank God for His Plan of salvation that brought perfection into our realm of possibility. Through the finished work of Jesus Christ, each and every one of us is a resounding ten when it comes to how God sees us living out this life as His Child.
Today's Bible reading points out some powerful points about condemnation. Check it out with me now.
If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God... 1 John 3:20-21 (NIV)
No where does it say that condemnation is something God even considers for those that follow Jesus Christ. In fact, God is so gracious, He gives us an out even when we feel condemnation for ourselves. When we do or say things that cause pain to ourselves or to others, John says that the condemnation we might feel in our own hearts is nothing compared to the greatness of this God that is in us. It isn't God that is bringing any condemnation we might feel. It is God that is working in ways, we won't fully understand till we get to heaven, to get that condemnation out of our thoughts once and for all.
Best way to tell if victim thinking is sneaking into your life is to ask yourself if you are entertaining any feelings of condemnation. If so, get rid of them! Today's reading, and a lot of other verses from God's Word, makes it clear that there is NO condemnation in Jesus Christ.
The power of victor living happens when we root out all the condemnation that wants to come up from deep down within to make us think we are something less than the Child God sees us to be. Make today be the kind of day where you walk in the fact that you are a perfect ten. Then you might be in a position to help others see their perfection in Christ as well.
Today's Bible reading points out some powerful points about condemnation. Check it out with me now.
If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God... 1 John 3:20-21 (NIV)
No where does it say that condemnation is something God even considers for those that follow Jesus Christ. In fact, God is so gracious, He gives us an out even when we feel condemnation for ourselves. When we do or say things that cause pain to ourselves or to others, John says that the condemnation we might feel in our own hearts is nothing compared to the greatness of this God that is in us. It isn't God that is bringing any condemnation we might feel. It is God that is working in ways, we won't fully understand till we get to heaven, to get that condemnation out of our thoughts once and for all.
Best way to tell if victim thinking is sneaking into your life is to ask yourself if you are entertaining any feelings of condemnation. If so, get rid of them! Today's reading, and a lot of other verses from God's Word, makes it clear that there is NO condemnation in Jesus Christ.
The power of victor living happens when we root out all the condemnation that wants to come up from deep down within to make us think we are something less than the Child God sees us to be. Make today be the kind of day where you walk in the fact that you are a perfect ten. Then you might be in a position to help others see their perfection in Christ as well.
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