Guilt-Free

Sunrise over the hills. Cave Creek, AZ

Therefore, there is now no condemnation

 for those who are in Christ Jesus,

 because through Christ Jesus

 the law of the Spirit of life

 set me free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:1-2 (NIV)

Guilt is a poor motivator.  When we fail to keep laws and rules we have created for ourselves, guilt arises.  Rules can backfire causing us to crave forbidden things even more.  Because of our weaknesses, a system of laws and rules just doesn’t work.

God has instituted a completely new system.  It is a system based on a whole new law – the law of the spirit of life. It is a system in which the giver of the law is the fulfiller of it as well.  As we are filled with that life giving spirit an amazing thing happens.  We are now actually able to fulfill God’s laws, not by our own strength and effort but by the effortless yielding to the spirit within.

It is a walk of freedom.  When we realize we have been set free to follow the spirit, we do not have to be lead any longer by our guilty feelings.  We still may fail, but then, the spirit gently picks us up, dusts us off and sets us on our way again.  We are no longer under law of any kind except the law of love.  What a difference between the old guilt producing, try harder system and this new system which leads to freedom, joy and love.

Are we willing to let go of our own system of self righteousness and allow his gentle spirit to guide us every moment into this new life of joy and freedom.  All we have to do is ask.  Ask largely.  Ask boldly.  Ask in faith believing because God desires to bless you with the fullness of his spirit and his life.

This is a covenant not of written laws,

 but of the Spirit. 

The old written covenant ends in death;

 but under the new covenant, 

the Spirit gives life.

2 Cor 3:6 (NLT)

For when I tried to keep the law,

 it condemned me.

 So I died to the law

—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—

so that I might live for God.

Gal 2:19 (NLT)