Someday I'll be free

"Don't make God's Spirit sad. The Spirit makes you sure that someday you will be free from your sins." Ephesians 4:30

I think the worst feeling for me is when I am standing on the threshold of a sin I've already committed. Standing at the precipice of a cliff that I've already jumped from. The feelings are still fresh, and I know the direction I'm heading isn't the best. I ask myself questions like:

"Haven't you learned this lesson already?"
"Can't you remember the pain you went through before?"
"What the @#*%$# are you doing here?"

And the tears fall again. But do I walk away. Not likely. That is what kills me inside. There is no ignorance at place here.

"Been there,done that... got the T-shirt."

Reading this portion of scripture from Ephesians this morning couldn't have been more timely. I'm back at the cliff again. Looking over the edge and trying to remember what it was like the last time I jumped. And as I recall... the ride down was ecstasy...hitting the bottom was the killer. So why do I think of the ride and fail to focus on the landing? Too many questions I can't answer this side of heaven.

BUT!!!!!.... What I got out of the passage in Ephesians is such awe inspiring promise from God. Someday I will be free from my sin. Someday my days of grieving the Spirit will be over and I will be embraced in His arms.

"Wait a minute... " I hear you saying. "That's heaven... but what about now?"

Ephesians 4:23 tells me..."Let the Spirit change your way of thinking... and make you into a new person."

Wow! It's not about me. Life transformation comes when I listen to the Holy Spirit and trust His wisdom. Not always an easy thing to do... but always rewarding. The bruises on my backside are a vivid reminder for me. It's better I walk away from the cliff this time.

Mistaken Identity

"All the people started talking about Jesus and were amazed at the wonderful things he said. They kept on asking, 'Isn't this Joseph's son?' " Luke 4:22

Have you ever walked through a checkout line with a child that wasn't your offspring and have the teller say something like, "Oh your child is so cute. He (or she) looks just like you." And in that proud moment all you do is introduce yourself as 'auntie' or 'uncle' or the babysitter. Been there, done that and got the t-shirt that says "not my kid".

During Jesus' childhood, Joseph must have had his fair share of 'proud moments'. "What a hard working son you have.", "You must be so proud of your boy.", "Yeshua looks just like you, Joseph." And all along Joseph said to himself. 'He's not my son.'

I have no doubt in my mind that Joseph was proud of his step-son. He loved Jesus like his own begotten children. But Joseph knew the truth. What was hidden from most of Nazareth was Jesus true identity. He was not Joseph's son; he was God's son. Even when Jesus was an adult in ministry, his hometown neighbour's were still mistaking his identity.

What about me? When people look at me who do they see? What is my identity in the eyes of my neighbours? Do they know the truth? Do they know who my real Father is? Or... am I just a resemblance of my earthly inheritance?

Jesus didn't keep his identity a secret.

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." John 14:6-7