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How To Be Wretched Featured Image

How to be wretched

June 30, 2016 by brianmichaelsteck Leave a Comment

Throughout scripture lie a series of positive qualities that are characteristic of holiness and Godliness. But every once in a while, the writer veers from this pattern and elaborates on the negative characteristics which mark some people. In short, it’s like a checklist for “how to be wretched.”

Not that we want to focus on the sinful qualities, and not that we have much control to overcome them apart from the Spirit’s help, but nevertheless, I don’t want to overlook any scriptural lists that might help convict my heart and align my life with Christ’s.

Checklist for how to be wretched

Before you discount this entirely, calm your heart and mind as you read these. Ask God to reveal if of these sins from 2 Timothy 3:1-9 have become a part of you:

  • Lover of yourself
  • Lover of money
  • Boastful
  • Proud
  • Abusive
  • Disobedient to your parents
  • Ungrateful
  • Unholy
  • Without love
  • Unforgiving
  • Slanderous
  • Without Self-control
  • Brutal
  • Not a lover of the good
  • Treacherous
  • Rash
  • Conceited
  • Lover of pleasure rather than of God
  • Having a form of Godliness but denying it’s power

If you’re like me, some of those items hit home in an embarrassing and convicting way.

There may not be, on this side of heaven, a way to be entirely without any of these characteristics. God is in the beautiful and awful process of making each of us holy (sanctification). But to look over this list and acknowledge weaknesses allows me to humble myself before the Lord again and ask for His help.

God is good and faithful to forgive us and free us, who know all-too-well how to be wretched, of our sin.

And frankly, He does it so we can grow in intimacy with Him, not because he needs us to be good. His Son, Jesus, was already fully good.

He wants to have relationship with us. He wants to walk with us through the dirt and the grime of cleaning up our messy hearts and minds.

He’s not saying “be good so I can love you”. He’s saying, “I love you. Let me be with you and my goodness will purify all.”

Filed Under: Scripture Studies Tagged With: Sanctification

Gods desire is to truly know you

God’s desire is that you truly know him

November 18, 2015 by brianmichaelsteck Leave a Comment

This is what the lord says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the lord, have spoken! Jeremiah 9:23-24

God’s desire is not for you to do more, be better, try harder or get smarter. God’s desire is that you truly know Him.

So calm the rush, settle the flurry of busyness and sit. Be still. Ask God to reveal himself to you.

When you are quiet, still and allow your inner whirlwind to cease, you will find Him and know Him. For God’s desire is that you truly know Him.

Filed Under: Scripture Studies Tagged With: Intimacy with the Lord

Thankful we don't get what we deserve

Thankful we don’t get what we deserve

January 1, 2015 by brianmichaelsteck Leave a Comment

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.—Lamentations 3:22-23

There are times that I peek over the fence to see the “green grass” of my neighbor’s yard, or grumble along in my frustrations, wrongly presuming that I deserve better. I think to myself, “Why does life have to be so hard? I’m not a bad person.”

In reality, this thinking is quite foolish. When I slow my mind and my heart and think soberly about the situation, I realize that I don’t deserve anything. My heart, if left to itself, would only produce selfish desires and pride.

If I was given what I deserved, most days I’d get a swift wrapping upside the head; and truly, if God were to give me what I deserve for my “faithfulness”, His consuming fire would put a quick end to this life.

Yet, in His love, He has faithfully pursued me. He has sacrificially given Himself for me, as restitution for my disobedience. He has forgiven me with an undying love.

I deserve death, but He has broken the mold of “justice” and given me life instead; and His mercies are new every morning. Hallelujah!

Filed Under: Scripture Studies Tagged With: forgiveness, Grace, Mercy

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