Better, But Not Perfect

When Malcolm Muggeridge (1903-1990), a prolific English journalist and writer, was asked, "Did you ever get to a point where you thought you were a good Christian?" He candidly responded, "No…No, I'm afraid not. But I'm better than I was."

The response given by Muggeridge reveals an apt description about what Christian life is. It isn't a life of perfection. Not even a life of dereliction. It is but a life of continuous sanctification. In living a Christian life, we are not as worse as we were nor will we be as perfect as we should be. It is a life of transition, not a state of life, from imperfection to perfection, from evil to good, from ungodliness to Christ-likeness. It is a life where we become better and better and better in our brief journey of life on earth.

Are you disappointed because your life isn't perfect? Focus on perfection and you will end up condemning yourself for not being so. Focus on the person Jesus Christ and you will find hope to keep going after Him amidst the storms of life. Is it not written, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith?" (Heb. 12:2)

Yes, there will be times we miserably fail, but Christ says, "Rise up and walk." There will be times we feel insecure, but Christ says, "Be strong and do not fear." There will be times we become anxious, but Christ says, "Trust Me." There will be times we fall in sin, but Christ says, "Repent and follow Me." There will be times we feel hopeless, but Christ says, "Rise up and cling unto Me." There will be times we are shattered, but Christ says, "Humble yourself under My mighty hand and I will make your life better."

As I write this, I am remembered of a work I had given to a carpenter. In the process of his work, I showed some flaws here and there and questioned the work of his hands. His response went something like this, "I need to still work on them. I haven’t finished my work yet." Likewise, when we are disappointed looking at our lives, marked with flaws, failures and weaknesses, I think, our Divine Carpenter is saying, "I haven’t finished My work on you yet."

"God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through" (1 Thes. 5:23).

________________________________

ENQUIRIES:

Feel free to write your comments below (or) write to

E-mail: friendsofchrist@gmail.com

Comments

Three Tragic Signs of Complacency

"Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth," said A.W. Tozer. These days I have been meditating on the book of Amos. What wealth of insights the Lord has in store for His children to learn about His ways! When I came to chapter 6, I was moved in my heart to self-examination, for it reveals three tragic signs of complacency. One of the terrible diseases of Christianity today is complacency [a feeling of self-satisfaction]. A.W. Tozer says, "Religious complacency is encountered almost everywhere among Christians these days." He also observed, "Among the many who profess the Christian faith, scarcely one in a thousand reveals any passionate thirst for God." I cannot resist agreeing with Tozer. If the world is shattered because of its callousness towards the truth, Christianity is miserable due to its complacency in the truth it has believed. Let us reflect upon the following brief message with a prayerful heart and allow God to redeem us from this ...

Can Married Couples Watch Pornography Together? [Part 1]

1 of 3 One day my wife and I happened to visit a married couple. As I was discussing about marital issues with them, the woman candidly asked me a question—“Is it okay for my husband and me to watch pornography together? Someone known to me suggested it is sexually healthy for a couple to watch porn together.” There are many misleading voices these days, saying—“Watching porn together is one of the best ways a couple can connect.” “Watching porn together strengthens your sexual relationship.” “Watching porn together adds fuel into your dry marriage.” I have even found an article entitled, “Couples who watch porn together stay together.” According to a debate on Times of India.com on whether couples are okay with watching porn together, 53 pct felt that it was perfectly natural, while 43 pct held it to be morally degrading. If this is the perspective in a more conservative and traditional nation like India, which is now becoming more liberal in moral issu...

From Burglar to Benefactor

T his week, on June 26 th , I have passed sixteen years of my faith in Christ. It is on this day, in the year 1996, I was saved and transformed by the life-transforming power of Christ Jesus. At that time, I was 19 years and now 36 years old. If there is any wonderful and unregrettable decision I have made in my entire life, it is the decision to give my life to Christ in my very young life. Hallelujah! Stealing and Prospering A s I reflect on my past life, i.e. life before Christ, I feel ashamed of being a thief. I was clever at stealing from the time I was a small kid, stealing toys in carnivals. In my teens, I remember of once robbing a set of products from a big shop. My friend was a decent guy and was so afraid of joining with me in this theft. Nevertheless, I persuaded him not to fear and stole the products. Somehow I was observed and was caught outright. My friend and I were dragged to the nearby police station. When we watched other thieves badly beaten by the p...

stephen-on-bible

Search This Blog