Have You Been Thinking About Giving Up?

Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

Have You Been Thinking About Giving Up?

I am tired of failing. It has now been 31 years since I placed my faith in the work of Christ for me, but after all this time, I am continually disappointed in myself because I am not where I thought I would be at this point in my walk with Christ. During these 31 years I have worked in ministry teaching people what the Bible says about money and have also led a Christian school. I have led Bible studies and small groups and have had many opportunities to lead others through teaching the Bible. And yet, many of the truths I have taught I have been unable to live out in my own life.

What are these sins that I have been unable to conquer? Well, they are not the outward sins that anyone could see-although I still struggle with those. No, the sins I am losing against are the sins of the heart and mind. These are the sins that cannot be discerned by the casual observer of my life. Sometimes, they are called the “secret sins.”

So, let’s get more specific about these “secret sins.” These are what John wrote about in 1 John 2:15-17 where in warning against loving the world said, “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.” These desires are things like thoughts about money, both the desire to have more (greed and lack of contentment) and anxiety over losing what God has given me (“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”). These kinds of sins include the prideful judging of other people- their sins, motives, and lives. These kinds of sins are aligned with the world’s teachings on sexuality. These kinds of sins draw you into spending God’s gift of time on things that have no eternal value and eat up the time you should be spending on things that feed your soul and others.

In response to these failings, I would double down on efforts to fill my mind with Christ-centered thoughts. I have read more and listened more but even in the very midst of those efforts- good and helpful efforts- sinful thoughts creep in. In fact, my prayers are often invaded by thoughts that have nothing to do with God. These experiences make me want to throw up my hands in disgust with myself and ask, “when will I graduate from this unfaithfulness?” Maybe this was some of the experience of the ancient monks, who sought to eradicate sinful thoughts by beating themselves with a whip. No worries, I’m not going there.

Then, on a recent excursion through the forest of sinful thinking, I had an epiphany. Actually, it was a re-epiphany. It was the same revelation from God I had 31 years ago and that revelation, was the gospel. I had forgotten the gospel. No, not that I had intellectually forgotten the gospel, but I forgot to apply the gospel to my everyday life, and it was time for a review.

Here is what I learned 31 years ago and what I needed to review:

I am a sinner who cannot stop sinning. I am weak and frail and out of control.
All of my efforts to please God apart from Christ working in me are like filthy rags to God. As Paul wrote, no matter what my credentials might be, they are worthless before a holy God. I need a Savior who has kept the law perfectly on my behalf. I have no righteousness- it is all Christ’s righteousness!
I will have to fight against the world, the flesh and the devil every day until I die, and I will not win even one battle in my own strength, but I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me. When I am weak and willing to acknowledge it, He is strong in my life.
I will battle to remember this gospel, but like Peter I will continually ask God to increase my faith.
Seeing the depth and magnitude of my sins serves to magnify the awareness of Jesus’ love for me displayed on the bloody cross and causes me to praise Him as my King.
If God is for me, who can be against me?

In conclusion, there is no giving up for the Christian. There is only remembering what is true and applying it to everyday life. When we do so, we go from frustration to exultation and have a sense of joy even in the failures. I believe Paul would give an amen to that seemingly strange idea when he said, “we live as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2 Cor. 6:10).

And by the way, our children have no answer for their continued failure to obey their parents and those failures may become a source of frustration for them. What a great opportunity to share the gospel again and again.

Thanks for reading. You can find many more articles, recorded books, booklets, sermons, and devotions, all from famous preachers and teachers of the past On YouTube, the web, or Apple Podcast by entering Cherish Ephesians 64 in the search bar.