Perhaps you have had a similar experience. Most computers users have. It happens to all of us eventually; and it recently happened to me. Even though I know I have anti-spyware, anti-virus, and anti-adware programs all on my computer, sometimes I just get too busy and do not take the time to download the updates and/or run the scans as regularly as I should.
Recently, I began to notice that my computer was running a little too slow. I also realized that it had been doing this for some time. That is also when it hit me. I checked my malware programs and realized my updates were woefully behind, as were my scans.
A little while later, my machine had been updated and my scans had been run. As one might have expected, numerous invasive items were found on my machine. Once discovered, and then deleted, I rebooted my machine without their presence or effect. As a result, my machine now runs much more efficiently.
I was reminded through all of this that my spiritual life works much the same. I was given a clean slate the day I received Jesus Christ as my savior. My sins were wiped away. However, that did not make me impervious to temptation. Even Christians still make mistakes. Even Christians still fall short. Even Christians still commit sin. Christians, as the bumper sticker says, are not perfect, just forgiven.
But praise God. When I do slip up, when I do fall prey to temptation and commit sin, I am not bound to live captive to this. God offers me the opportunity daily to confess my shortcomings, daily to receive forgiveness, and daily to be renewed.
When I am sensitive to this, I find that my love for Christ and my walk with Christ and my witness for Christ are all much more meaningful and effective. King David of old understood this. After he had fallen prey to temptation and committed the double sins of adultery and then murder, he was broken and cried out to God what has become one of the Bible’s most beloved passages (Psalm 51).
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. 5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. 7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.
My strong suspicion is that once God answered that prayer, David found a new joy that surpassed even the magnitude of his sorrow. And what God did for David, He can and will do for us.
So, my friend, if there is something, anything, no matter how big or how small, weighing you down in your spiritual life, then remember what all God can do. He can diagnose it. He can quarantine it. And most importantly, He can delete it.
Calling on Him for cleansing can change the way your heart runs. And it can change your effectiveness as a witness for Him. If you need to do this, then please do. You will be amazed at how efficient and smooth your spiritual life becomes.
Recently, I began to notice that my computer was running a little too slow. I also realized that it had been doing this for some time. That is also when it hit me. I checked my malware programs and realized my updates were woefully behind, as were my scans.
A little while later, my machine had been updated and my scans had been run. As one might have expected, numerous invasive items were found on my machine. Once discovered, and then deleted, I rebooted my machine without their presence or effect. As a result, my machine now runs much more efficiently.
I was reminded through all of this that my spiritual life works much the same. I was given a clean slate the day I received Jesus Christ as my savior. My sins were wiped away. However, that did not make me impervious to temptation. Even Christians still make mistakes. Even Christians still fall short. Even Christians still commit sin. Christians, as the bumper sticker says, are not perfect, just forgiven.
But praise God. When I do slip up, when I do fall prey to temptation and commit sin, I am not bound to live captive to this. God offers me the opportunity daily to confess my shortcomings, daily to receive forgiveness, and daily to be renewed.
When I am sensitive to this, I find that my love for Christ and my walk with Christ and my witness for Christ are all much more meaningful and effective. King David of old understood this. After he had fallen prey to temptation and committed the double sins of adultery and then murder, he was broken and cried out to God what has become one of the Bible’s most beloved passages (Psalm 51).
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. 5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. 7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.
My strong suspicion is that once God answered that prayer, David found a new joy that surpassed even the magnitude of his sorrow. And what God did for David, He can and will do for us.
So, my friend, if there is something, anything, no matter how big or how small, weighing you down in your spiritual life, then remember what all God can do. He can diagnose it. He can quarantine it. And most importantly, He can delete it.
Calling on Him for cleansing can change the way your heart runs. And it can change your effectiveness as a witness for Him. If you need to do this, then please do. You will be amazed at how efficient and smooth your spiritual life becomes.