Striving For More.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

This is the topic of discussion with my DGroup & the mission is to strive for righteousness. My DGroup leader (who is awesome, by the way) challenged us to think about this throughout the week. The most important thing to remember is not that we are to strive for righteousness, but why we should.

Just the thought that we DO HAVE a high priest who has gone through the heavens (or gone into heaven) has been tempted in every way (just like us), but didn't sin! So we can approach His throne with confidence and there we will find mercy and grace to help us when we need it. How encouraging!

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1
Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? And what agreement does God's sanctuary have with idols? For we are the sanctuary of the living God, as God said:

I will dwell among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.

Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord; do not touch any unclean thing, and I will welcome you.

I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty.

Therefore dear friends, since we have such promises, we should wash ourselves clean from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, making our sanctification complete in the fear of God.

This has been so difficult for me to grasp lately. There are three promises God gives. These promises adress our problems of security, identity, and love.

These are my biggest struggles. Some people deal with different stuff, but my most difficult thing to overcome is the lack of confidence which leads to insecurity and a search for identity. I believe that this is something that will only be better once i find my security and identity in Christ. Everything else will just fade away & leave me empty and even more insecure. The only one who gives me something worth while is Christ. Why is it so hard to try to find this confidence.

I guess the good aspect of this is that I don't find any confidence in myself, which could have been a pride problem. But instead I have an extreme case of humility which can be dangerous at times. I don't notice all the gifts that God has given me to worship Him in my every day life.

So I pass on my challenge to Strive for Righteousness and Purity. Also a new challenge... to believe the promises of God.