 December
2010
Welcome to this month's
view. I know that many of you are hurting
because of unmet needs during this Christmas
season. Some of you are frustrated because
of unmet expectations. Or you may be living
in fear because of insecurity. Regardless
of your need, the answer is to "...come
boldly to the throne of grace, that we may
obtain mercy and find grace [ability] to
help in time of need."1
Emotions That Destroy
While on death row in January,
1972, my counselor wrote this about me -
"the All-American boy."
"What events transpired,
and what emtional concepts were set in
motion prior to his decision to leave
that life-style and set of values for
the totally foreign experiences of the
drug-culture is unknown. He cannot yet
verbalize it, and, in fact, may not even
be consciously aware of it. There is no
doubt that something or someone propelled
him to totally immerse himself into this
new life-style."
For years now, I have been
aware of the "emotional concepts"
that drove me from a healthy life-style
to an unhealthy one. I felt perceived rejection
and insecurity (fear), not to mention my
pride, rebellion, and self-centeredness.
I medicated my emotional pain with drug
abuse, and released my anger and violent
behavior on others, which I deeply regret.
Now, I'm reaping the consequences of my
sin.
In the book, "Overcoming
Emotions that Destroy" (Baker
Books, 2009) by Chip Ingram and Dr. Becca
Johnson, they write about three primary
emotions: 1)Hurt (unmet needs); 2) Frustration
(unmet expectations); and 3) Insecurity
(threatened self). I believe this book will
help you to understand that anger is a secondary
emotion to these primary ones. In my frustration,
I left my wonderful parents in Texas, moving
to California to overcome my problems. I
didn't understand the problem was deep within
my heart -- spirit and soul (thoughts, choices,
and emotions), not my location.
During my childhood, I
was in church several times a week, but
I never came to know the Spirit of grace.
Sadly, I grew up without God's strength
in my spirit. I wasn't filled with wisdom,
and the grace of God wasn't within me. I
was prey to the evil one without any authority
over him, having not received God's gift
of grace. I obtained God's mercy and came
to the throne of grace in June 1975. I received
Jesus into my heart, and the Holy Spirit
gave me a new heart. The Lord says:
"I will give you
a new heart and put a new spirit within
you; I will take the heart of stone [stubborn
and self-willed] out of your flesh and
give you a heart of flesh [pliable and
responsive]. I will put My Spirit within
you and cause you to walk in My statutes,
and you will keep My judgments and do
them."2
Many of us didn't grow
up like the baby Jesus: "...the Child
grew and became strong in spirit, filled
with wisdom; and the grace [ability] of
God was upon Him."3
During His earthly ministry, Jesus said:
"I do nothing of myself: but as my
Father has taught me..."4
Likewise, we can do nothing without God's
ability working in us. Grace is God's ability
working in us, making us able to do what
we cannot do in our own ability. We find
grace to help in time of need at the throne
of grace. This is where we go to find help
to overcome our hurt, frustration, and insecurity.
Grace To Help
You may feel rejected
like I did in the 60's, but God's "throne
of grace" is open to you. It's not
a throne of judgment, but where we go when
we need God's ability to handle or overcome
things [hurt, frustration, and insecurity].
"The Lord is gracious and full of compasion,
slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD
is good to all: and His tender mercies are
over all His works."5
We come to God's throne
by faith in the finished work of the Lord
Jesus Christ, not by our good works. As
the Word clearly says: "Dear friends,
we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place
because of the blood of Jesus. This is the
new, life-giving way that Christ has opened
up for us through the sacred curtain, by
means of His death for us...let us go right
into the presence of God, with true hearts
fully trusting Him."6
As the chorus goes: "Things
on earth grow strangely dim, in the light
of His glory and grace." Thoughts that
brought hurt, frustration, and insecurity
are cast down in light of the blood of Jesus.
Our position before the throne is not based
on us, but based on Jesus. God doesn't reject
Jesus, so He doesn't reject us. "He
has made us accepted in the Beloved."7
Accepted In Christ
It is humbling to realize
that my perceived rejection and insecurity
in the 60's drove me to earn acceptance
from man, when God's throne was open to
accept me in Christ. Acceptance is based
totally on Jesus. Maybe you are feeling
rejected, and heading down the wrong path,
seeking acceptance from all the wrong people
and in all the wrong places. If so, faith
comes when you hear God's Word, believe
it in your heart, and confess it with your
mouth.8 Then, you'll
be rescued from destruction.9
Shout it from the roof
tops, "I'm accepted by God because
of the finished work of Jesus Christ!"
In Dr. James B. Richard's book, "Grace,
The Power to Change," he says:
"Apart from realizing
God's acceptance, you will never receive
His grace. As long as you feel the need
to earn righteousness, you frustrate the
grace of God.10
But in understanding total acceptance,
you can approach the throne with confidence."
My previous two views were
about righteousness by faith in Christ.
This is the key to understanding your acceptance.
When you accept Jesus as your righteousness,
then there will be peace in your heart about
the love, acceptance, and approval of God.
As a result, you'll come to the throne of
grace with boldness; leaving hurt, frustration,
and insecurity in the dust. Won't you receive
Christ as your righteousness today?
A Prayer For You ...
Heavenly Father, I pray
that You reveal the righteousness of Christ
in me through the finished work of the Cross.
I am a new creation in Christ.11
I believe in the cleansing blood of Jesus
for my righteousness, and not my good works.
I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in my heart that You raised
Him from the dead. I believe I will not
be disappointed "...for the Kingdom
of God is righteousness, peace, and joy
in the Holy Ghost."12
I will yield to the righteousness of Christ
that lives in me. Lord, I ask that you increase
my faith so that I will be conscious continually
of the revelation of my righteousness in
Christ. Hurt, frustration, and insecurity,
GO in the name of Jesus! I am secure because
I am accepted in the Beloved! Amen.
Scripture References:
Acknowledgement: A special thanks
to Sherry for transcribing this months view!
|
