"How...Wow....Wow!"
Here's the link to the Cinnamon Bear Episode #4 http://www.radiolovers.com/shows/C/CinnamonBear/CINNBEAR371202e0432-22-mono11m46sTheIkaboos.mp3
2 Timothy 2:15 - Do your best to
present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be
ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
Shame or Secret Ink-a-boo Boundary Lines? We see a bit more of what makes Crazy Quilt the Dragon tick. He is bound by fear and shame. He feels bad for not only stealing the silver star but now he has lost it in the Root Bear Ocean. He wants to make things right with the Cinnamon Bear and Jimmy and Judy but about that time the Ink-a-boos show up and he runs away.
A great big dragon afraid of an army made out of blotting paper and swords made from pointy pins. Shame and fear do often walk hand in hand in our lives. We get trapped in a vicious cycle of trying to measure up, falling short by yielding to our base sin nature, feeling the shame, and then fear follows along to remind us that we not only don't measure up, we are a coward as well.
Our verse today from 2 Timothy talks about how we don't have to be ashamed if we correctly handle the word of truth. So today if you are feeling like you don't measure up, your not good enough, or you are waiting to get your act together before really turning to God. I can guarantee you are feeling shame not just because of your failures but because you have not yet correctly handled the word of truth.
Romans 3: For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as
a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His
righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins
that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
We sometimes get the idea in our heads that we need to be a good enough Christian to somehow be worthy of the sacrifice that Jesus has made for us. My pastor shared a wonderful example on Sunday from the Old Testament. When a person brought a sacrifice to the high priest, it was the sacrifice that was examined to see if it was spotless not the person brining the sacrifice.
We can get busy thinking we have to clean our selfs up to approach a holy God when all along the sacrifice being examined is Jesus. It is Jesus that is spotless and it is his blood that covers us and pays for our sins past, present and future.
It really all comes down to - believing that Jesus is a sufficient sacrifice to atone for your sins. Its not his sacrifice plus your good behavior. It is only His sacrifice there is nothing that you can do to earn or deserve what He has willingly done on your behalf.
As for the Ink-a-boo's and their secret boundary lines. We can be bossed around by our fears or we can face them and see them for what they are... someones grocery list on blotting paper.
The words we fear when seen in the light of Jesus are really nothing to fear. Jesus takes our laundry list of sins and cancels them. He wipes the slate clean. How do we live from the point of salvation to getting to heaven? Do you really truly believe Jesus is enough or are you still striving to somehow be a good enough believer to make God proud of you. Its a really easy trap to get caught in. The enemy has us right where he wants us, living lives filled with shame, guilt, doubt and fear. That is not what Jesus want's for you. He wants to transform your life, not by your power but by His. He wants to help you to see the places where you are still being held captive to the old dead ways of thinking and believing. He wants to embark on a journey with you to know Him more. Today He wants to show you how he loves you. How He wants to help you walk in greater freedom.
The question you have to ask yourself is do you believe that His sacrifice is enough to cover all you have ever done, are doing and will ever do? If you are still trying to be good enough.. you need to stop and asking him to help you get the foundation of the good news that He brings.
Prayer: Lord help us to stop striving and trying to some how measure up and earn your favor. Help us to once and for all shake free of shame, guilt, fear and doubt. Help us to learn to trust you and to be daily led by your Holy Spirit. Help us to really grasp the magnitude of what you have done
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