Don't Isolate
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you so very much for sending your Son to go to the cross—to rescue us from our perilous fate, bringing us into your family, and giving us eternal life. I’m so grateful for the body of Christ that you have brought us into. I ask that you continue to reveal who I am as an individual, who we are individuals, and who all of us together are as members of your body. All for your glory!
Focus
Don’t let the devil use shame against you.
Devotion
God is One. He is also three—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. But he is ultimately One.
This three-in-one aspect of God is known as the Trinity. As a trinitarian God, therefore, we can see that God is a community within himself.
We, created by God in his image, are made with the same communal nature. In the same way God is a community within himself, we are made to be in a community with others. Community is vital to every part of our health both physically and spiritually.
I need you. You need me. We all need each other.
It makes sense to me, then, that the devil will often use shame to isolate people. Isolation distances one from the community and moves one to live outside the image we were created to be. Which, as God said in Genesis 2:18, “It is not good for man to be alone.”
One surefire way to feel shame is to sin. Then the devil has an open door to tear you down, and isolate you:
“You’re worthless!” the devil chimes in.
“You call yourself a follower of Jesus!” the devil jeers.
“You’re hopeless!” the devil assaults.
All of these fiery darts, if they pierce you, can have a way of causing someone to move away from the body of Christ, people in general, and God. When we take these wounds and distance ourselves from others this can be a dangerous road that could lead to darkness.
Not too long ago I was in the throes of sin. In my shame, I distanced myself from many people. Praise God I came clean to a fellow believer, and we’re working on getting me back on track. It takes work, but the work is eternally worth it.
As James said on Sunday, God will never use shame. However, the devil will use shame to lead you off the path and into isolation. The devil does this because he knows that if he isolates you you won't be functioning properly as an individual or a member of the body.
Praise God. Praise God! Praise God for Jesus’ work on the cross. Now, all sins are forgiven for those who believe in Jesus. When we slip up, and we do, the door that the devil used to enter through and assault us is closed—and the lock gets stronger the more we get to know who we are in Christ.
ALL HAIL THE KING!!!
This three-in-one aspect of God is known as the Trinity. As a trinitarian God, therefore, we can see that God is a community within himself.
We, created by God in his image, are made with the same communal nature. In the same way God is a community within himself, we are made to be in a community with others. Community is vital to every part of our health both physically and spiritually.
I need you. You need me. We all need each other.
It makes sense to me, then, that the devil will often use shame to isolate people. Isolation distances one from the community and moves one to live outside the image we were created to be. Which, as God said in Genesis 2:18, “It is not good for man to be alone.”
One surefire way to feel shame is to sin. Then the devil has an open door to tear you down, and isolate you:
“You’re worthless!” the devil chimes in.
“You call yourself a follower of Jesus!” the devil jeers.
“You’re hopeless!” the devil assaults.
All of these fiery darts, if they pierce you, can have a way of causing someone to move away from the body of Christ, people in general, and God. When we take these wounds and distance ourselves from others this can be a dangerous road that could lead to darkness.
Not too long ago I was in the throes of sin. In my shame, I distanced myself from many people. Praise God I came clean to a fellow believer, and we’re working on getting me back on track. It takes work, but the work is eternally worth it.
As James said on Sunday, God will never use shame. However, the devil will use shame to lead you off the path and into isolation. The devil does this because he knows that if he isolates you you won't be functioning properly as an individual or a member of the body.
Praise God. Praise God! Praise God for Jesus’ work on the cross. Now, all sins are forgiven for those who believe in Jesus. When we slip up, and we do, the door that the devil used to enter through and assault us is closed—and the lock gets stronger the more we get to know who we are in Christ.
ALL HAIL THE KING!!!
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