Each week we feature a devotional, book review or testimony ~ a “Devotional Spotlight”, written by a woman in our ministry. We hope you are blessed in reading Judy’s devotional!
“A Big City Becomes a Small Community”
As a resident of metro Atlanta, I’ve watched our large city become a small community over the past week. The winter storm, with suggested names such as Snowpocalypse 2014, Snowmaggedon, Snow Jam, and the more official name of Winter Storm Leon, has brought us together in a special way through common struggles and similar concerns. We’ve pulled for, prayed for, even provided for the needs of those we love, as well as people we didn’t even know. I imagine we’ll share stories from these days for many years to come.
In recent years I’ve been blessed to be part of another small community. It’s a community of believers who love me; they are women who pull for, pray for and provide for me. They’ve chosen to see me as God does, instead of judging or condemning me for the sin they’ve gotten close enough see. It’s a trend I see in the body of Christ — one that I hope will catch on like a wildfire through a dry forest.
This is how it should be, for our sin does not define us.
Yet, I often find this truth easier to believe about others than for myself. I spend Monday mornings at My Sister’s House, the women’s shelter of the Atlanta Mission. Joined with women from JFBC and other area churches, we have the incredible privilege of spending time with women whose life circumstances and choices have led to a place of crisis. They’re amazing women. When I look at the them I don’t see the sin they’ve committed. I see a vision of the life they will have because they are giving themselves fully to Jesus.
For years I struggled to give myself the same grace. Now I’m able to receive it because God is changing how I see myself. In part, He’s using the unconditional acceptance of a community of women to do it. His Word says, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed” (James 5:16). A few years ago the Lord led me to follow this verse specifically. Sitting around my kitchen table, I shared my story with three safe and precious friends. God was true to His Word.
Because of Jesus we can have great hope for ourselves and others. Sin no longer has to reign over us. Grace is not a license to sin; it’s the power to overcome sin. We can do so with ever-increasing victory, becoming women who sin less and less. According to Romans 6:6:
“Our old self was crucified with Him (Christ) so that the body of sin might
be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.”
Now that’s something to post on your bathroom mirror!
Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin so that you and I might become the righteousness of God (from 2 Cor. 5:21)!
Righteousness was imparted to us at salvation. Its manifestation occurs through an ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in us. Righteousness comes by faith (Rom. 4:3); it’s not something we earn. To fight sin, we believe who God says we are. We stand on His Word that we are new creations and no longer slaves to sin. We still flee temptation. We still discipline ourselves for godliness. We still take every thought captive and make it obedient to what God says is true. But above all, we believe. We believe that Christ in us is more than enough to overcome the sin that once so easily defeated us.
We believe this for ourselves and we believe it for others. Acknowledging our common struggle and similar concerns, we cheer one another on toward a life of godliness. When the men stood circled around the adulterous woman condemning her, Jesus offered hope. He didn’t condemn her, but told her it was possible to sin no more (from John 8:11).
As those of us in the church extend love, grace and hope to others, I believe those outside the community of Christ will see something they’d like to have. They’ll see Jesus.
