While teaching a lesson to our small group, I explained the basics of the gospel. The simple truths of our sin before a holy God, his righteous judgment against us, his mercy that provided a way, and our call to repent and believe. While sharing these wonderful truths, my mind was simultaneously doubting. “They’ve heard all this before. These people are here every week, why are you repeating it?” I questioned myself.
However, it seems that anytime I share it, even if it’s to those who’ve heard it thousands of times, it never loses its power. It continues to resonate, and I can see it in the eyes of the listeners. No matter how many times we’ve heard it, we enter each gathering, each lesson with a fresh set of sins and shortcomings before our holy God. Yes, they heard this last week, but they’ve sinned since then and need fresh grace. Shame seeks to overpower us yet again and we need to be reminded of God’s abundant mercy.
Last week’s articles serve as another reminder of God’s forgiveness…in the face of our shame and even when we don’t desire what we should. As one article states, Satan continually seeks to draw us back into shame. Fight such temptation with the best news ever. Remind yourself of what you heard a thousand times already and let it stir your gratitude and joy in the Lord.
In Christ,
James Williams serves as associate pastor at FBC Atlanta, TX. James and his wife, Jenny, are blessed with four children and are actively involved in foster care. He is passionate about beholding the beauty of our Lord and helping others do the same. He enjoys writing, running, and gardening. You can follow James Twitter or his blog where he writes regularly.
Last Week at GCDiscipleship.com
A Game of Hide and Seek: How Shame Keeps Us From the Father’s Forgiveness
by Bethany Broderick
“When we believe God is a begrudging Father, we hide from him. When we believe he’s frustrated at our repeated failure, we run away from him in fear instead of toward him for forgiveness. When we believe we’ve gone too far, we cut ourselves off from the very power which helps us overcome sin.”
When A Pastor’s Wife Doesn’t Want To Go To Church
by Christa Threlfall
“Yet we all know that life is hard and full of trouble. Some Sundays I am overwhelmed by the greatness and mercy of God; other Sundays I’m annoyed because my children are fighting during the song service. But church isn’t a place where I’m making a public appearance. It’s a place where I get to gather with my fellow brothers and sisters in faith who are different from me in many ways but just like me in the most important way—a grace-saved sinner.”