Don't Let Guilt Win!

Hello Guys and Gals!

I want to talk to you today about guilt!


guilt /gɪlt/ Show Spelled[gilt] Show IPA –noun

1. the fact or state of having committed an offense, crime, violation, or wrong, esp. against moral or penal law; culpability: He admitted his guilt.
2. a feeling of responsibility or remorse for some offense, crime, wrong, etc., whether real or imagined.
3. conduct involving the commission of such crimes, wrongs, etc.: to live a life of guilt.

This is the definition that dictionary.com gives about guilt. As you can see it is the fear or state of your knowledge that you have done wrong against someone. We all have guilt. All of us have to deal with that knowledge that we have done others wrong, that we have done God wrong. None of us is so pure that we haven't committed any wrong.

But do we have to live with that guilt the rest of our lives?

'For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.' James 2:10.

Clearly we see that if we stumble on just one little thing, that we are guilty of breaking the whole of the law. It does not matter if that guilt comes from a little, white lie, or from black murder. It is still an offense and we all have had many more than just one stumble in our lives.

'Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.' Hebrews 4:14-16.

I love this passage! This passage lets us know that our intercessor, Jesus Christ, has also been tempted by the very same things we face when we are tempted. He knows what we have gone through and what we will go through. He will be there with us! So be sure to go to Him boldly and say, 'I want that grace!' For if you do, your guilt will be no more consequence.

'Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.' Hebrews 10:19-25.

Big passage here! Yet it states that we can draw near with a sincere heart being fully assured that our hearts have been sprinkled clean from an evil conscience. Our guilt is of no more consequence in His eyes!

So what now? Do we take this freedom we now have and go back to living the way we were? Heaven forbid! May it never be! Instead we are to stimulate and encourage one another to doing good deeds through our, and His, love of them. We are to keep to assembling together and not forsake it. Why? Because by gathering together on a regular basis, we encourage one another and draw strength from each other who are of like mind with us.

God wants us to use our gifts to bring about His will in our lives and the lives of others! Your gift may be leading a flock, teaching the Word, or simply being there to listen to someone who needs to be listened to. We all have different gifts. You know what it is that you do well. Use that gift and go encourage others in His love!

But don't let guilt win! Sometimes we are afraid to use our gifts because we remember that guilt from before and think that we are not worthy of furthering His will. But that guilt is only a memory! Remember that! It is no longer a part of your life having been washed in the blood of Jesus Christ! So put your remembrance of that guilt away from you and seek to help doing His will, not only in your own life, but also in the lives of others!

God bless you all this day!