Ragamuffin: struggles

… with sin and ourselves

W

e are a “holiness” movement.
Our doctrine states that we believe in “sanctification”. Does that mean we don’t struggle with sin?
The holiness concept has always been dear to me yet so misunderstood. How do we deal with sin yet hold this valid teaching and live it out?

Overcoming sin is something that has to be done with the help of someone beyond ourselves – God! I am not “perfect” in many ways. I need His grace. I live off it. His acceptance cannot be based on my “goodness” but His furious, overwhelming love.

Winning the battle over sin must be done in light of this concept of grace. My prayers for help admit that I need Him. My declarations of trust in His work on the cross become my firm foundation for any victory or any type of holiness being displayed in my life.

I see myself as a “ragamuffin in need of His grace” (Mullins) but at the same time not an abuser of the grace that is offered.

I take assurance that Jesus knows me – really knows me. He knows our failings and loves us anyway. (Hebrews 4:15 and Romans 8:39)

We must choose to not yield to temptations and be willing to make the hard choices in our lives. (James 4:7)

We must guard against the temptation of our eyes, our flesh and our ego. (1 John 2:16)

With that said let me share about three gauges we must watch. One time I heard Bill Hybels talk to leaders about the gauges in our lives. We often think of the two vital gauges we must watch:

1) The Physical (which is implied in 1 John 2:16) It is true that temptations can get a foothold in our physical lives. However, Hybels’ point was rather that we must keep ourselves physically well because if we don’t, any imbalance in our physical bodies can affect us in other areas. It can weaken our stance against the enemy. So watch ourselves physically. Keep an eye on the physical gauge. Holiness should affect how we live in the physical realm as well as the spiritual realm.

2) The Spiritual (which is implied in Matthew 5:8 & 5:48) This is the obvious gauge that most of us think of when we struggle over sin or think of holiness. We must keep our hearts clean. Integrity must be kept at all costs. Our relationship to God must be kept up-to-date and channels kept clear of blockages (sin).

But then can we forget the third gauge?

3) Emotions - okay, my heart is right with God, I have been eating correctly and taking care of myself physically so why do I feel so “out of it” – so not right? It may not be sin it may be that you are emotionally drained! In our doctrine #10 there seems to be the inference that we are made up of these three components (trichotomy) body, soul and spirit. We have talked of the body and spirit but our soul is crucial as well (some say this consists of our mind, will and emotions). If you are a people person and you spend most your time alone at a desk you will feel drained. If you are an introvert and you spend all your time around people, socializing, you will feel drained emotionally. You may not even realize what is happening at first. You might say to yourself “Hey, I should be more loving to people but I feel irritated…” – it may not be a heart problem but an emotional or mental energy problem. This is where working in your gifted area is such a “God-send” of an idea. Live, work and minister in the area of your giftedness as much as possible.

So what? Balance time and watch all three gauges for victory in your life. Sure you will still be tempted, still make mistakes but living at your optimum will allow more triumph, more conquest, and more victory over sin.

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body* be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. (1 Thessalonians 5:23) Paul says this sanctification embraces the whole being.

* Footnote: Some scholars feel Paul does not intend to be so strict in the meaning of “body, soul, and spirit” and is really saying “all we are”. Even so the fact is we are emotional beings and must watch that area of our life as well.

Ragamuffin appears every Monday on theRubicon. Find past Ragamuffin posts and a bio of Capt. Jay Davis here.

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