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Reminding Ourselves

by Christie Myers

“We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort….I no longer count on my own righteousness…rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith…” (Philippians)

We all struggle with our thoughts sometimes, don’t we? One of my pastors encouraged us a few days ago, and reminded me again today, to preach the gospel to myself. Often times we preach the gospel to others, but very often we need to be preaching it to ourselves. These verses from Philippians are so encouraging to me. Everything that used to matter is garbage compared to knowing Christ. None of our efforts and striving to be good enough and to be accepted are of any value. They’re garbage. None of our picture perfect outfits, hair, make-up, skin; none of our human relationships will make us right with God.

God does not consider me righteous because I work hard or because I am in ministry, or because I don’t smoke cigarettes…and He does not see me as unrighteous because I have thoughts I hate. I become righteous through faith in Christ. This is what God’s word says.

Amid the storm of emotions and thoughts and fears I battle against as a woman and as a human being, I am completely accepted by God in Christ. He has already forgiven me for all of those thoughts and fears and feelings. Jesus already died for my sins and rose again to bring me new life.

If ever we feel discouraged and question how a Christian can be struggling with awful thoughts, we know one thing: If we put our faith in Christ, and His finished work on the cross, if we confess our sins and call out to Christ Jesus for forgiveness and salvation, we are saved.

Now we must cling to that hope. The hope of eternal life in Christ.

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. (Philippians)

Did you need this reminder today? Or is this the first time you’ve heard this message?

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