Salvage

You've probably heard the saying that the definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over but expecting different results.

In other words, oops, we did it again.

More often than we like to admit, we find ourselves asking God to give us just one more chance.

We promise this time, we'll be good.

And for a while, we are.

In our active redemption phase, we are full of self-control and discipline. Nothing can tempt us or dissuade us from our goal. We are focused and confident that this time will be different.

Then the adrenaline wears off, and we let down our guard. Ever so slowly and sneakily, temptation, ego, fear, or whatever triggers us pulls us back down into the familiar funk of failure.

Here we go again.

Here we go again, crawling back from the wreckage, asking for forgiveness and another shot at it.

Just one more time, we promise.

Exhausting. Annoying. Frustrating.

Of course, God's grace is never-ending. Somehow, he never tires of giving us second, third, and 54th chances.

God will step into our mucky pit and salvage us from the wreckage we find ourselves in again (and again).

But honestly, aren't you just tired of the insanity?

We cannot let our guard down or get too cocky.

We have to stay in active redemption, painfully (and I do mean painfully) aware that if we aren't careful, we could slip back into the places we fought so hard to leave.

I really don't want to go backward, and I know you don't either.

Let's be honest with ourselves, hold each other accountable, and rely on God to hold us up and protect us when we feel ourselves weakening.

We are all in this together!

How about this for a new saying? “They knew better, they did better. The results speak for themselves.”

Onward and upward, my friend!

1 Peter 5: 8-11

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

John 3.:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

Ephesians 2: 8-9

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.