To all who are facing certain sins in their lives that refuse to budge,
I happen to come across this verse yesteday before leaving home for school and it deeply encouraged me.
Luke 15: 10
"Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."
This morning, upon completion of my portion of a school project, I flipped open the bible and decided to read through the chapter to understand the context of this verse. I have came across this passage several times and believe it is a familiar passage to all. However, it never struck me that hard as compared to the previous times I've read it. It was probably a signal to me that I was desperately in need of His divine wisdom to be encouraged and to be spurred on to oversome certain issues in my life.
Luke 15:1-10 (King James Version)
1Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
2And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
4What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
8Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
There are many struggles and/ or sins that I often find resurfacing in my life, and I begin to doubt if I can actually completely root them out. I usually choose to simply dust/ shrug them off my shoulders.. and not before long, realizing they are still there... weighing me down as burdens on my shoulders!!
More often than not, there are common conditions where these persistent issues will tend to re-surface...
... in times of stress...
... in times when I am distant from God!
(Not that He left... but the exact opposite where I have not set aside time seeking Him for wisdom and allowing His word to be a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path)
Am I doubting God's promise that He will not allow me to be tempted beyond what I can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13)?
or
Am I over-reliant on my own strength to solve these problems?
These are common questions that repeatedly return to me.
From this passage, let us be encouraged, and realize that we can't possible give up so easily!
This is especially so when we have a team behind us, a whole host of angels cheering us on, rejoicing in heaven as we repent of our sins and return to Him. Let's do our part to live a righteous and upright life as put our faith and trust in God as He delivers us from our sins.
Amen! =)
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