Failure

READ:   "We need to hold on to our declaration of faith: We have a superior chief priest who has gone through the heavens. That person is Yeshua, the Son of God.  We have a chief priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. He was tempted in every way that we are, but he didn’t sin.  So we can go confidently to the throne of God’s kindness to receive mercy and find kindness, which will help us at the right time."
Hebrews 4:14-16

THINK:
How often have you felt like you've failed in living out the Christian life as you had hoped?  You wanted to spend 15 minutes each day reading the bible, but another week has gone by, and you still haven’t come close to your goal.  Conclusion – you failed!
At another time, an unkind and untrue remark was made of your friend, and you said nothing – you failed again! Then again, you did not help an unpopular classmate with some homework, because your pride would not let you be seen with them – you failed!
At the end of one of your days, you realized that jealousy, lust, and lying had already connected with you, and you still had 6 hours to go – again, you failed!

All of these above sins were initiated by some sort of temptation.  You’ve been told the solution is to keep your eyes on Jesus.  Look to him, but what do you look for?  When you look for help in any area of your life, you look for someone who has been through the trial and temptation that you have experienced, and has come through it successfully.  That’s why we are encouraged to look to Jesus. Why?  Because, he was tempted in all things as we are. That’s why he can sympathize with each of us.  He’s been there – taken all the “shots” that Satan and others could throw at him, and yet did not fail.  He finished his earthly life with a perfect 10, though he had still experienced temptations.

DO
The next time you’re aware of being tempted, look not to the Jesus quietly talking with his disciples, but to the Jesus who suffered untold vicious, and brutal agony on a cross to pay for that sin you would incur if yielding to that temptation.  He’s now your High Priest in heaven who understands what you are going through, and is waiting to hear you confess any sin that he will forgive and cleanse you of, and for which he has already paid the price!

Now that is not failure!


See also – I Cor. 10:13; I John 1:9

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