Author Archives: Shereen Lashua

My Personal Brokenness

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My interest in the Scriptural view of brokenness began after I went through a series of tragedies, because those tragedies broke me. The circumstances of life were hard, but the sin and relationship issues were the most devastating. I am sure that most readers will relate to some of my troubles as we all suffer from difficulties that leave us broken.
It would take volumes to describe all that happened, but I will recount some of the events here. My 23 year old son was diagnosed with brain cancer. My dysfunctional and abusive marriage ended with a flood of information about hidden sin issues that left me feeling betrayed and rejected. My niece, who was only 23 years old, died from an addictive lifestyle. Our family home that my parents had owned for more than 30 years caught on fire and had to be torn down. My sister betrayed me, causing significant pain and difficulty for me and my children. I was forced to sell my home, but unable to get a new place. I had to live with friends and family for a time, not knowing where I would end up. And then through the grapevine, I learned that our family dog had died. It was a tough year.
The heartbreaks I suffered were extremely difficult. I felt broken. I wasn’t functioning spiritually, mentally, emotionally, or physically. I knew that I was a mess, but I wasn’t even sure where to start getting help. I knew I couldn’t do it alone, and many wonderful people stepped up to help me. But that wasn’t enough.
I needed to know how God felt and how he dealt with brokenness. I was felt like I was such a mess that I probably wouldn’t be much help in building God’s Kingdom. I thought that my years of contributing to the ministry of God were probably over. It seemed to me that I was too big of a mess to be of much use to Jesus.
I decided to do a study on brokenness. I started by looking up the word broken in the dictionary. Maybe broken wasn’t even the right word to describe what I was going through. So I got out the dictionary, and it confirmed my fears. I was definitely broken. Here are the definitions that applied to me.
• 1. Forcibly separated into two or more pieces; fractured: a broken arm
• 2. Sundered by divorce, separation, or desertion of a parent or parents: children from broken homes
• 3. Having been violated
• 4. a. Incomplete
• b. Being in a state of disarray; disordered
• 5. a. Intermittently stopping and starting; discontinuous
• 7. a. Subdued totally; humbled
• b. Weakened and infirm
• 8. Crushed by grief
• 9. Financially ruined
• 10. Not functioning; out of order
This was the beginning of my study. I knew I needed to find out what God had to say on this subject. This study would have to be based on the Bible. The lessons would need to include universal truths. For this effort to help me, it would have to apply to my personal experience. And finally, if what I learned was truth, it would bring glory to God.
The study that follows is what I learned as God lead me on a healing journey through the Scriptures. It is how I learned that I was broken, but I was not trash.

Broken But Not Trash: The Intro

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I know that I am broken. Broken by the effect sin has had on my life. No one has to point it out or remind me. It is clearly evident. The proof is in my thoughts and actions. I am not whole, complete, or perfect. I would never attempt to deny that I am damaged goods.
The problem is that our society is intolerant of imperfection. This intolerance has caused us to become a disposable society. If anything gets chipped, broken, or worn out we toss it. We rarely attempt to repair anything. If it is broken, we dispose of it and replace it with a new and improved model.
It is not surprising in such a throw away culture that we have come to see broken people as trash. We are ready to throw the imperfect on a refuse heap and leave them to rot. It is sad, but it is common to find this attitude even in the church. We have been influenced by the world’s ideology and often treat people as cheap and disposable. They are imperfect and broken, so we feel justified in labeling and segregating.
It is probably safe to say that each one of us knows what it is like to lose patience with someone else’s brokenness. If we are honest, we must admit that each of us has been ready to toss the imperfect. We tend to be quick to discard those with obvious faults, thereby encouraging church members to hide their flaws and cracks for fear of being tossed aside. Pretending that we are ok is not the answer. Recycling is!
It is clear from God’s Word that each one of us is damaged, broken, and ready for the trash receptacle. Sin has left us damaged. Our own sin breaks our spirit and eats away at our minds. The sins perpetuated against us by others break our hearts and crush our emotions. We are broken and deserve to be discarded.
But praise God, in spite of the fact that I am damaged goods, God has chosen to keep me. There are reasons he does this. He has a sentimental attachment to me because I am his creation. He loves me because I belong to him. He sees value in me. He wants to keep me near to himself. He is also fond of recycling. He doesn’t like waste, but delights in taking old junk and making it into beautiful artwork.
As we look into scripture, we see many broken people. Some were physically broken. Mephibosheth was crippled. Jacob had an injured hip. Hannah was barren. Spiritually broken people are included in the history of God’s people too. Samson comes to mind. Elijah was emotionally broken and tired. Hosea was suffering from a broken relationship. Job had a broken soul, spirit, and body. And the list goes on.
People are now and always have been broken. If this was where the story ended, it would be sad and hopeless. It doesn’t end there though. God recycles what society would or has discarded. The glorious truth is that God shows grace and mercy to the broken. He offers to remake us into something new, whole, complete, and special. He sees the value in what others see only as discarded junk. Once he remakes us we are no longer trash, but we are useful, valuable, and uniquely designed to bring honor and glory to the Most High God.
Are there times when you question your value and usefulness because you are chipped or cracked? Have you been left on the trash heap outside the church? Have you been discarded because of your brokenness? I have. And from my place in the landfill of societal rejects, I saw Jesus walk towards me and smile. He picked me up, held me close and took me as his own precious possession. I belong to him, and he is recycling what once was trash. Turning me into a showpiece that brings glory to his name. “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).
There is no question about it. I am damaged goods. I have flaws and cracks that are evident to all. But because of God’s unique ability to see value in what society has discarded, and because of His recycling efforts in my life, I know “I am broken, but I’m not trash”.

Overcoming Life’s Storms

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This is a reprint of a blog I wrote in 2009. It was written after a series of tragedies changed my life. This blog was God’s reminder to me that I needed to move on. It didn’t matter that I had been broken and beat up by the storm. God had a place for me. He loved me and still wanted me to work with Him. Out of this realization, I wrote a series of lessons called “Broken But Not Trash: How God Recycles People”. This will be my new blog series. Please join me as I revisit the valuable lessons God used to heal me from the damage caused by the storms of life.

“My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death assail me. Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest— I would flee far away and stay in the desert; Selah I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.”” (Psalm 55:4-8)

There have been times in my life when I have been in anguish. I have felt that the storms of life were flooding my soul, and I was going to drown. Actually this happens to everyone. My problem was that I often chose (maybe by default) to stay in the middle of the horror that was overwhelming me. Through Biblical study, prayer and the insight of other believers, I have learned that I am often beset by fear and trembling because I am making stupid choices.
The fact is everyone encounters at last one shipwreck from the storms of life, most people more than one. It shouldn’t surprise us when it happens. It surprised me. I was caught totally off guard.
I found myself travelling along unaware of how the storm was growing. I was feeling a little seasick. I knew the waves were growing and becoming powerful. I didn’t worry too much. I was trusting in the ship that I thought was strong enough to carry me. I was oblivious to the pending disaster.
The storm grew out of control. There was nothing I could do. To my amazement, all of my thoughts and plans for my trip were about to be destroyed. “Quick! Sheri, do something”, I thought. I tried to bubble gum the hull together. I tied the sail onto the mast with cheap thread. All was to no avail. The ship in which I had travelled and put my confidence was broken and destroyed.
It is already apparent that I had made a few errors. For starters, I shouldn’t have had confidence in anything other than God. I also shouldn’t have wasted my time on childish attempts to fix the ship. I should have been learning how to swim! The bad moves didn’t stop there, and it becomes even more pathetic.
I was soon soaking wet, sinking into the raging seas. My first instinct was to grab a hold of the wreckage. I pulled some junk together so I could stay afloat. I held tenaciously to the debris believing I would die if I let go. Ok, that isn’t such a terrible idea initially, but if I continue to hang on instead of seeking and planning for safety, I will eventually grow weak and tired. The opportunity for sinking into spiritual oblivion increases with each passing moment.
I couldn’t bring myself to let go. I was holding tightly to pieces of garbage because I still recognized them. In my hypothermic and shocked state I saw the trash as what it had once been, and not for what it had become. I didn’t want to let go of the familiar.
The distance to safety was very small. A beautiful island with warm sand where I could dry off was close at hand. Sustenance and comfort had been provided by the Creator God. A new world that may even become my paradise was right there. It was a short swim away.
I would have to let go of the old junk. I would have to count it loss. I would have to quit looking back and go forward to the place, and life God had prepared for me. It would be much different, but I wouldn’t drown in the sea of despair. I would have a chance to live a life of beauty, purpose and significance for the Lord.
It took me a while to realize that an unknown island, created and prepared by a Loving Father, was preferable to drowning with the wreckage that the storms of life had caused. I still feared the unknown but knew the unknown was preferable to sinking in hopelessness. Mustering my remaining strength, I let go and swam to shore.
Just reaching the shore brought a sense of excitement and new hope. I knew I would not drown. The brightness of the Son started to dry out my soggy soul. I started to enjoy a sense of adventure. New opportunities were before me. The scary disaster was behind me. And the Lord of Life was walking with me.
This new life beyond the storm is not easy. A lot of hard work is required. Inhabiting a new island is slow going. Building new structures and daily harvesting much needed food for my soul requires diligence. I am also finding pieces of the old life scattered along the shore. Many of them are useful in my new life as I learn to adapt them and fit them in. I still sometimes grieve the losses.
The initial hard work will eventually pay off in great abundance. I will eventually settle into this new place. When that happens, I will find more time to explore, enjoy, and take it easy. For now, the hard work is joyful work because I know that God saved me, and he saved me for a purpose.

Lord of all Creation, I thank you for saving me from the storms of life. I thank you for putting my feet once again on a firm land. I was in spiritual anguish. “When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on me, all hope of my being saved was at last abandoned” (Acts 27:20). But you, O Lord, were gracious and kind to me. I called to you, and you saved me (Psalm 55:16). Because you are God and you constantly show yourself to be faithful, I will trust in you (Psalm 55:23).
I will wake up excited, ready to enjoy the adventure of a new day. I will discover your love today. I will encounter your faithfulness as I enjoy the blessings you have given to me.
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”” (Lamentations 3:22-24). My hope is unquestionably in you. Without your strength and safety, I am lost in anguish, overwhelmed with horror, and will be consumed by the swirling storms of life. I only have hope because of you and in you. Keep me by your power.

Magnify the Lord Your God

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“Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt his name together!” (Psalm 34:3)

On a recent flight to Lima, I had a window seat. I like window seats. I have always enjoyed watching out of windows. I used to get in trouble in school for not paying attention because I would look out the window and daydream. Windows are a trigger for my brain to start imagining.
We were nearing the end of our whirlwind tour of Peru, headed back to Lima after some adventures in Puno. It was a beautiful day. It was a little cloudy which always makes a plane flight interesting. It was less cloudy the closer we got to the coast. We circled Lima getting ready to land. Then my imagination got really carried away. I saw a bunch of colorful little blocks. They looked like Lego blocks. I started guessing what they could be.
My guesses weren’t even close. I didn’t realize how far away I still was and how massive the “Lego blocks” truly were. As we got closer, I could tell they were quite large. I saw a truck parked next to one of the colorful boxes. That’s when I realized they were shipping containers. A far cry from Lego blocks!
What appeared to me as colorful one inch building blocks, where actually 20 foot long shipping containers! The reality was the same whether I was close or far. The difference was my perspective. As I said, they appeared as small blocks. The reality was that they were enormous shipping containers. In my imagination, I could move them around and build beautiful toys. In reality, I couldn’t move them even an inch. My perspective made a tremendous difference.
I started thinking about my perspective of God. Sometimes I see him as small. That is not reality. It is that I am too far away. He seems small when I am at a distance. At times, I think I can control Him, move Him according to my whims. The truth is that God is massive. I need to see Him from a different point of view.
So how do I get my perspective right? I need to magnify God. I need to enlarge my view of Him. That is something we sing about. It is something we talk about. But how do you do it? I had that question, so I went to Scripture to find an answer.
“I will praise the name of God with a song;
I will magnify him with thanksgiving” (Psalm 69:30).

If we want to see God magnified, we need to praise Him and thank Him. When we do this, it takes us to reality. It brings our hearts and minds close to Him so we can see His true dimensions. When we praise and thank God, we are moved close to Him so we can see His power and glory. He will be magnified.

Dear Lord change my perspective. I do not always see you the way that I should. I move away, and from a distance you can seem small to me. That is not the truth. Let my mouth and my soul praise you and thank you for all that you have done. As I move into your presence through this praise, worship, adoration and thanksgiving, I know you will be magnified. I will see you as you are Big and Strong. I will confidently say that you my God are formidable and unmovable. I will know that you are Great and Mighty. In you, I put my trust.

Put Forth the Effort

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“Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27-33, ESV)

Technology is a marvellous thing. It keeps getting better. As it does, we keep upgrading in hopes of improving our productivity. My friend recently upgraded to a new smart phone. She had only owned simple cell phones and had a hard time just adding people to her contact list. Then she decided to upgrade to something even more complex.
When I asked about her new phone, she showed me the picture on the screen. It was beautiful and quite large. I asked how she liked the phone. She told me about all of the features she looked forward to using. It seemed that her phone could do everything.
She asked about my iPhone, and I told her how much I liked it. I told her about the features that I liked the most and the ones I used most often. She told me that her phone could do all of the same things. I thought that she truly loved her new phone and was actually enjoying all of its benefits.
I was wrong. Over the next few weeks, I saw how she struggled with the phone. She couldn’t make it work. She did not know how to use all of the wonderful features. The phone did have a lot of capability, but the user had to know how to use it. The problem was that my friend expected to pick up this complex phone, with many different apps and programs, and use it without any training.
I laughed when I thought about this later. I know that the more complex something is, the more effort we must exert to learn about it. My friend expected to pick up the phone and understand all of its complexity without putting forth any effort. Things just don’t work that way.
It was a powerful lesson for me. I realized that this is often our attitude about living and abiding in Jesus. We come to know Him and trust Him as our personal Savior, and then we expect that the most complex and involved relationship of our lives will be easy. We don’t even think about the effort required.
We certainly should be willing to put in the work. The benefits are enormous. As we take time to get to know the Lord of the Universe in His complexity, we will be better able to function in the program He created. Also, our lives will become more useful. Our time will be better spent. We will not just look pretty on the outside, but will be useful and a blessing. Our ability to reach out and touch others will grow exponentially as we learn about the Source of Power.
Put forth the effort. It will be worth it.

Dear Lord, I am often lazy. I do not count the costs or pick up my cross daily. I am sorry. Help me. I do desire to know you and have a closer relationship with you. I know that any effort I expend will be well worth it.

A Time to Travel

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I am going on a trip in the near future. I am going to a distant country on another continent. I have never been there before. It has always been a dream of mine to go there. I am going to Machu Picchu, Peru. I have watched documentaries and travel shows about it. I have read books. I am so excited finally to be going.
When I decided to book the trip, I read even more. I read about the people, the culture, the history, the geography, and the climate. I wanted to be prepared. I wanted to get the most out of my journey.
To enjoy the trip fully, I felt that it was necessary to know what to wear. I want to bring the right clothes for the climate. I also want to make sure that my clothes are culturally acceptable, and I don’t want to offend the Peruvians. So I need to know what to pack. I am still unsure, but at least I have some guidelines.
I am also reading about the sites and culture. This way I will be able to ask intelligent questions and gain a better understanding of what I am seeing. I will be prepared to get the most out of the experience. I will not be surprised when they offer guinea pig for dinner. I already know that it is a staple of the Andes called Cuy.
How much richer our experiences are when we are prepared for them. We can be prepared. We can enjoy the adventure at a deeper level. We can be more intelligent about our choices by making informed decisions that are based on knowledge. We can be less fearful as we travel abroad.
Living the Christian life is living on permanent vacation. I am in a foreign land. I belong to a different culture It is exciting, and there are incredible things to see and enjoy. But I get myself in messes because I am not always prepared for the next adventure. I could be if I studied ahead and read the guide book. I better read my Bible today.
I should also talk to the guide who travels with me everywhere I go. He knows all the ins and outs of travel in this world. He also knows all the best places for adventure. He shows me the most beautiful sites and wonders. I better trust the guide today.

Lord, thanks for going on an adventure with me. I am looking forward to traveling through life with you. I will trust you and read my Bible. You are a joyful and exciting companion. I thank you for all the fun.

The Bread of Life and Blueberries

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035“For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (John 6:33)

This morning I decided to start my day with a healthy breakfast. As I looked through my refrigerator, I thought that I should have a fresh fruit smoothie. Then I changed my mind, and I thought I should have oatmeal with fresh fruit. After thinking of many terrific options, I settled on French toast smothered in syrup. Not the healthy breakfast I had envisioned. It smelled so yummy, and I was glad I had decided to make it, but I felt a little guilty for not eating a healthier meal. I decided to top the French toast with blueberries. That eased my conscience a little.
Adding blueberries did provide a generous dose of vitamin C, fiber and antioxidants. So they helped make my breakfast a little healthier. It would have been better though if I left out the syrup and powdered sugar. I had noble intentions when I got up, but I quickly got enticed by the sweets and fats in my kitchen. The Lord used this situation as an opportunity to remind me of the passage we studied on Sunday.
The pastor taught from John 6. This passage talks about Jesus, the Bread of Life. He is the healthy food I need. I get up every day with the intentions of making it a fantastic day with Jesus, but it doesn’t always work out that way. Many times it works out like my breakfast. I have plans on feasting on the Bread of Life, and something else will grab my attention. I end up feeding on something less than the best. I give up the healthy option for junk. When I realize that I made a poor choice, I try to throw a scoop of Jesus on top to ease my conscience.
Although there are some benefits to this, it isn’t the healthiest option. I do get some spiritual nutrients and vitamins. A healthy meal without fats and tons of sugar would be better, though. If I want to be spiritually fit and healthy, I need to feast on the Bread of Life. I shouldn’t just try to add him to top of my desires and plans. It might ease my conscience a little, but it still isn’t best.
Feasting daily, consistently on the Bread of Life needs to be a daily habit. It is a discipline that I must develop. It will take some self denial. I will have to go on a spiritual diet. I may have to give up things that aren’t bad, they just aren’t the best. If I am going to be strong for Jesus, I need to feed my heart and mind with the Bread of Life.
Next time I will choose the fruit smoothie and quiet time with Jesus.

Dear Jesus, I thank you for your gift of salvation. I thank you that you continue with me on my journey. I thank you that you provide all the spiritual nourishment that I need. Let me feast on you. Let me gain my daily strength from the power that comes from above. Keep me from being distracted by superfluous and unnecessary fulfillment. Teach me to find fulfillment and contentment in you.

I Want to be Found Faithful

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And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ (Luke 19:17)

The disciples of Jesus were longing for the Kingdom of God to be established here on earth. They mistakenly believed that Jesus was going to establish this kingdom immediately. Jesus told a parable describing a different future.
The parable describes a kingdom where the constituency refused to accept the king. So the king leaves but before he goes the wise ruler delegates responsibility to his servants. The ruler entrusted each servant with some money. They were to use the money to carry on business and make a profit for the king. Upon the king’s return, there would be an accounting for the money.
When the king returned, he established his kingdom. He then called his servants into his presence to ask about the business of the kingdom. Each servant gave an account for the money that had been entrusted to them. Some are praised for doing a good job. They had been found faithful. Some are condemned for their laziness. They are held accountable for their choices and actions.
The king in this parable says to one of the servants who did an admirable job, “Well done”. The ruler also rewards him with more responsibility. He gives him greater honor and a better position because he had been faithful in the small matters. He worked his way up by doing his best in the little things.
This is a lesson God wants me to learn. Why would he give me great tasks if I can’t be consistent with the small things? I must be faithful where I am at this moment. I need to give my best effort in everything I do. The King is coming, and I want Him to say to me “Well done”.
I recently read this quote, “I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble” (Helen Keller). This sums up the point the Lord was teaching me from this parable. So today, I will do the small tasks as if they were great and noble, and I will do them for Jesus!
Jesus is coming back to establish His Kingdom. When He gets here, I want to be found faithful in all matters, great and small.

King of Heaven, I am glad to be your servant. Thank you for entrusting me with little. Let me be found faithful. I agree with Helen Keller. I also long to do extraordinary things for you, but I know that my calling for today is to do the small things to the best of my ability. Bless my small efforts and use them for your honor and glory.

Wait and Hope-A New Meaning

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“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.” Psalm 62:5-6

Wait, because our hope is in the Lord. I love verses that encourage us to trust God. But, I have been confused by some of them, especially the ones that say “wait and hope”. Wait sounds like sitting around, doing nothing. Hope sounds like wishing things are going to be ok. This kind of thinking takes some of the encouragement out of our verses.
Waiting in silence seems like a punishment. We wait in line. We wait for people to show up. We wait for the microwave to heat up yesterday’s coffee. We can’t speed the process or get the ball rolling. We are stuck in a situation that we would rather not be in, and would change if possible. We view waiting as a form of torture to be endured.
As we wait in silence, we wish things were different. Hope is just a desire for things to be as we imagine them. We hope for pleasant weather for the weekend zoo trip. We hope to have enough money left over after bills to buy new shoes. We hope things will work out well for a sick friend. We wait, unable to do anything, dreaming for a good outcome. Is this actually what God meant? I don’t think so.
Recently, I read this quote. “Until the day when God will deign to reveal the future to man, all human wisdom is contained in these two words, Wait and hope.” (Alexandre Dumas from The Count of Monte Cristo) This led me to believe that the concept of wait and hope that fills our modern minds must not be a historically accurate thought. I started studying.
I found a good Biblical definition of waiting. “Being prepared to patiently look towards God for his guidance and accepting the timing he proposes. Waiting on God can lead to an atmosphere of expectation and confidence in God and a realisation of the unreliability of one’s own judgment.” Another thing I discovered was that waiting on God is not a passive activity. It is an active choice to trust God for His timing. It is placing His will and desire above our own. It is a choice of love and an act of worship. It is like waiting for someone you adore to come home from a long trip, although it still requires patience there is an eagerness and excitement in the waiting.
Hope is the eagerness and excitement that we have. We know and are confident that our loved one will come home as promised, so we hope for the moment to come quickly. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary hope is “to desire with expectation of obtainment”. With this in mind, the above verses have a whole new meaning..
With my incorrect view, I would have thought the above verses meant, Be quiet and sit around until God gives you an idea that you can wish will happen soon. With my new understanding, I now think it means, Choose to rest quietly as you look with eager expectation to the future, knowing that God is going to care for us.

Thank you Lord for the hope that you give to me. You have made promises that I know you will keep. I wait in eager anticipation for fulfillment of all you have promised. Thank you that the hope you give is more than just wishful thinking. I am glad I learned that waiting in you is an active choice to rest in your promises, confident of their fulfillment.

Self-Centered Freedom Is No Freedom At All

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Our world’s view of tolerance and acceptance has started to erode the churches moral standards and beliefs. Many Christians are leaning towards a relativistic view of morality instead of holding fast to the Word of Truth. Many claim that freedom in Christ allows them to make choices to live in a way that Christianity has traditionally held to be immoral and sinful. This self-centered freedom is no freedom at all. It is bondage to the flesh and fleshly desires. It is a lack of discipline. It is sin against a Holy God. Also, it is a sin against the people that we are called to love.

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24). Our selfishness in demanding freedom is a far cry from stirring up love and encouraging good works in one another. When we choose to live as slaves to sin, it is harmful to those around us. Paul shared this with the Corinthian church. “And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ” (1 Corinthians 8:11-12). Paul was addressing believers who were selfishly standing in their freedom without concern for how it affected weaker believers. Do we do that? It seems to be a predominant theme in American Christianity today, and it is wrong.

We must humble ourselves and care for others. “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). Looking to the interests of others means that we will avoid sin. We will not succumb to temptation because we are to be an example. We will withstand the attacks of the enemy because we do not want to harm others by dragging them into sin with us. We will practice self-control so we do not wound the conscience of weaker believers. We will practice what is good and right because we love others and want them to have an example that encourages them to live in freedom with Jesus.

Again, we are called to love one another. When we choose to follow our desires and succumb to the flesh, we always affect those around us. To continue in a path of sin, is a most unloving act. Our friends and family are harmed. Our churches are weakened. The people we sin with are driven farther from God. And we fail to declare the glory and honor and power of the Almighty. Loving others requires us to choose real freedom, freedom from sin, not freedom to sin.

Lord, let me live a free life, a life free from sin. Teach me self-control. Let me control emotions and desires so they do not control me. Give me strength to live this life of freedom ina a way that encourages others to be free also. If I truly love others, I will live as sinlessly as possible so I can be a blessing to them. Let me be an example and support to those who are weak. Help me to make decisions wisely, realizing that they affect others. I live in a community, and my behavior affects that community. Only in you and the power of the Spirit will I have the strength to love those around me in truth. Fill me with that power today and every day. Amen