You Are Not Alone
You Are Not Alone
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There are times when as we grow in our relationship to Christ we commit to changing different character defects in ourselves to be a better person. Often we fall short. We try again. For those who are Jesus followers, God has given us a bevy of tools to live a life full, vibrant, and obeying His command.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Luke 10:26-28 (NIV)
Jesus gives only two commands yet it is our shortcomings, weaknesses, and character defects that at times cause us to fail and sometimes miserably.
Those two commands don’t seem that difficult until we apply them to our daily life. How do we do the things we know we need to do but in the end often don’t? We are not alone in our need for help.
Remember Jesus on the earth was human with all of our temptations and challenges. His enemies were fierce and yet Jesus knew why he was here and where to gain His strength and direction. When Jesus was on this earth the Holy Spirit empowered Jesus to heal the sick, raise the dead, resist temptation, inspired His wisdom, and gave Him strength. Jesus had to face the challenges in human form with human limitations but The Holy Spirit was with Him the whole way.
When Jesus left this earth the Father sent the Holy Spirit to be with us the whole way as well.
Paul tells us of his struggles this way:
“I can anticipate the response that is coming: “I know that all God’s commands are spiritual, but I’m not. Isn’t this also your experience?” Yes. I’m full of myself—after all, I’ve spent a long time in sin’s prison. What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God’s command is necessary.”
Romans 7:14-16 (MSG)
Paul was one of the most intensely committed apostles and he struggled. The disciple Peter loved Jesus with all his heart but then did what he said he would never do; “Lord, never will I deny you” and within just a few hours did exactly what he never wanted to do.
If they struggled what hope is there for us?
Jesus said He would send one who will help us and He did. He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in those who choose to become Jesus Followers.
“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—”
John 14:15-16 (NIV)
In Acts 1 and 2, Luke details the beginning of the Church after Jesus was raised from the dead. The Holy Spirit filled the Apostles with power and wisdom to accomplish God’s plan. Peter, the one who denied Christ three times was now filled with the Holy Spirit and boldly preached the Gospel regardless of the price.
The apostles were not without defects of character, challenges, or petty differences and it took their intentional desire to follow Jesus’ command; love God with all your heart, mind and soul and to love one another.
The challenges of the early Church included spreading the gospel in a hostile environment, meeting the needs of the local church, supporting poor widows and orphans, egos, selfishness, deception, and persecution. The mission: teaching love and what that means in their everyday life in a culture that was foreign to love respect and kindness.
The only way to make it work is through the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in them to overcome their inward and outward challenges.
The disciples had a clear vision given to them by Jesus and a determined devotion to be intentional about every day fulfilling their commitment to God.
In our world today we face in some ways very different yet similar challenges. Around the world in the 20th century, we have more Christians being killed for being Christian than in any other century. A woman in a Bible Study I attend reminded us of the young girl at Columbine High School that was killed because she was praying. Several other students were challenged by the shooter with the question of their faith. While these other students weren’t killed they were shot professing their faith.
We have personality and character clashes across religious denominations. There is a myriad of addictions to substances and lusts. There are physical and emotional abuses. There is a “me” mentality everywhere we look. We have cultures around the world that are quite similar to the world the apostles faced.
Yet with Jesus’ death and resurrection defeating sin, death and the grave, Jesus gave us and the apostles the freedom to choose. With the power of the Holy Spirit, those twelve men were able to overcome their weaknesses, the strength, and courage to overcome the differences, develop their character, their love for God and for each other. They taught what Jesus had taught them and they changed the world they lived in and their teachings are remembered 2000+ years later all over the world by more than two billion people.
It takes just one person to make a difference for good or for bad. With the power, wisdom, and strength of the Holy Spirit, we can change. When we focus on Jesus’ life, His teachings, His overwhelming love for us we can make a difference. When we follow His commands to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, soul, and mind when we love one another we can change the world…beginning with us.
Are you willing to ask the Holy Spirit to dwell within you and give you what you need to overcome your weaknesses? Are you willing to depend on the Holy Spirit to build your character and say no to the things that really knock you off your track? Are you willing to depend on the Holy Spirit to help you love God and love others authentically?
