Faithfulness, Not Success

"The spiritual life is not a life of success, it is a life of faithfulness, and it's not easy."

We are talking about temptation at REMIX for our ending series and we touched on the fact last night that temptation is unavoidable. And the messy truth is that we ARE going to fail sometimes. But this does not mean that we should just give up because we are going to fail. Spiritual growth happens when we fail and continue trying to live the life we are called by Christ to live. Jesus didn't live among the successful to heal them. He got down with the normal people in society to call them up. They still failed throughout their lifetimes, but their general direction was pointed to Christ. I think so many times, we as Christians, put the majority of the burden on ourselves or on others (to make ourselves feel better) rather than accepting that we are FREE in Christ...to sin or not to sin. "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." What an awesome statement to know that we are free to live our lives HOWEVER we want. We are free to choose the life of service and worship. We are free to choose the life of messing up and stumbling. I know the life that I want, but I am not forced into it. I can choose it even when it seems like I have nothing else to give.

God, I think, lets us fail because it is in these times that we give up and turn to Him. It is in these moments that we realize our own insignificance and can sit in wonder at how awesome our God is. I wonder, when is the last time that you took the time to just rest? I think that the greatest hindrance to spiritual growth is busyness. Sure you're involved in every ministry that your church has to offer, but when was the last time that you just stepped back and let God wash over you?