Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- August 9, 2013
My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear. Psalm 38:4
When we feel like we have come to nothing, our Lord Jesus is ready to make us into something. Guilt can cause our good deeds to grind to a halt or it can drive us to try to make up for lost time with frantic activity for God. Guilt motivated behavior is not sustainable, because like a scuba diver’s weight belt it weighs us down with sin and shame. We drift deeper into the murky waters of fear until we are unable to see the forgiveness and grace of God. Guilt overwhelms our heart.
The blood of Jesus Christ is the only remedy for sin’s guilt. Other pseudo solutions like drugs, alcohol, sex, work and play only mess with our emotions and leave us longing for real relief. Guilt is a warning light on the dashboard of our life that flashes when we are close to losing our peace and joy. It is a protector of joy not a killer of joy. Guilt drives us to God for freedom from mental or emotional pain. Confess to Christ, release your guilt and accept His total forgiveness.
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. James 2:10
Beware of those who intentionally or unintentionally attempt to put you on a guilt trip. It could be they are shifting blame to you from their irresponsible behavior. Their own shame feels the need to shame those in their path. Avoid chronic carriers of guilt, they hurt innocent bystanders who stand near their exposed emotional wounds. Guilt is like a grenade whose pin is pulled, its insensitive shrapnel injures everyone in its path. Yes, be a righteous resolver of unresolved guilt.
Do you hold unrealistic expectations over the head of a loved one? Do you demand of others more than the Lord expects of them? If so, guilt can easily drive a wedge in between your relationships. A friend or family member bound up in their own shame and guilt need God’s grace and your gracious response. Your forgiveness frees the guilty. Once you have been freed from guilt by God’s grace, you can lead others to receive the Lord’s love. He frees the guilty!
They will be forgiven for any of the things they did that made them guilty. Leviticus 6:7
Prayer: Heavenly Father, free me from the guilt of my past, so I can free friends from guilt in the present.
Related Readings: Numbers 11:14, 14:18; Ezra 9:6; Luke 11:46; Hebrews 10:22
Post/Tweet today: Guilt is a warning light on life’s dashboard that flashes when we are close to losing our peace and joy. #guilt
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I almost always appreciate the writing of the Wisdom Hunters dailies. However, this one had a couple of logical contradictions. In one portion you speak of guilt being like a “warning light on the dashboard” and a preserver of joy. 2-3 paragraphs later, it is a grenade depositing shrapnel in its victims. I, like you can see the negative and positive manifestations / ramifications of guilt. The latter is most readily seen when the Holy Spirit is working through the conscience of a believer. However, this piece of Aug. 9 did not provide a clear delineation of the positive and negative sides in my humble estimation.
Of much less consequence there was in issue of noun-verb agreement in the paragraph before the Lev. passage.
Thanks for your continued efforts to honor God and equip the saints.