Standing in The Gap

Ephesians 2: 4-5 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved—”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:4-5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Feeling hopeless is a common human feeling we all pass through when situations seem bigger than us. That could range from a big situation such as not seeing how you will overcome an ailment or financial loss OR it could be like that in Ephesians, not seeing how you will overcome that “sin”.

Jesus did more for us than just defeating sin, He gave us a way out. Sin is like a natural default we all fall into, you don’t have to teach a person to lie, it just comes naturally. The awareness that the Word brings it that it highlights our “natural tendencies” and calls it Sin—> the opposite intention/actions/ways/character and reflection of God.

Now imagine being aware of your sin, but still being trapped because you can’t stop..for long. You can withhold so long before giving in because you have no greater force than yourself to stop you, and as you’ve discovered, we’re prone to Sin.

With that understanding Jesus came in and broke the weight that Sin had over us in that He made it possible to withstand and therefore giving us a choice, not based off self will or self control, but based on the Blood of Jesus Christ and His death on the cross.

However, it would be too far of a stretch for me to say that once you’ve accepted Christ and now walk in His righteousness and strength that you will never fall again. Think of it as now having a New roommate with class and prestige living with a roommate who wants nothing to do with change but likes it’s space as is. If you can imagine that you can visualize the struggle that will take place.

The hope however that we have, in place of our hopelessness, even after being Saved but still battling and struggling with our “default sinful nature” is this:

“So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12:7-9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Reference Video for this blog: https://youtu.be/dwvdrTaGs54