Escape the Decadence!

“He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share in his divine nature.” 2 Peter 1:4 NLT

Pacing back and forth, with hand on chin, the preacher formulated his thoughts. The pained expression on his face revealed his inner turmoil. We waited, expectantly. Then, “Why does God set us in a group of believers for fellowship only to be disappointed by some of their actions?” Good question! With the Holy Spirit’s presence in the hearts of believers, surely one’s evil desires are overcome and quashed by God’s divine nature.

Amazingly, throughout time, God chooses to be in our presence. In the Old Testament era God walked and talked with Adam in the Garden of Eden, led the Hebrews out of Egypt in order to communicate more closely with them, met Moses in a thundercloud on Mount Sinai, helped young David kill the giant Goliath, and spoke through the many prophets. In New Testament times, God walked as a man among all segments of society offering salvation to all who listened. After His resurrection, He continued to reveal Himself to the people of Israel, and then sent His Spirit at Pentecost to reside in believers’ hearts. Today, despite knowing our frailties, He truly loves us and still wants us to share in His divine nature, which is the community of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit.

Believers, through the Spirit’s presence in them, create community with other believers resulting in fellowship full of blessings and challenges. Some of my personal blessings received include prayer support during difficult personal and family times, shared joy upon significant family milestones, and spiritual growth due to the influence of others. In turn, I have had the opportunity to be a blessing to others through similar situations. In contrast to these encouraging times with other believers, some personal challenges experienced include disagreement with committee members, disappointing results in leadership positions, and disregard for some of my ideas. A further challenge was to understand and properly respond to a pastor’s lack of integrity as well as another believer’s slanderous comments about MY integrity! While the blessings of Christian fellowship are fresh breezes through our souls, the challenges are frightening whirlwinds for all involved, just as the preacher’s face revealed.

One of the true reflections of God’s divine nature in a group of believers is the forgiveness they offer to a fallen one, through the Spirit, in order to restore him or her to the envelope of God’s presence. The attack upon my integrity was the hardest, most shocking situation in which for me to grant forgiveness. The next day the attacker acknowledged the error of her words and asked for forgiveness. Although I struggled to do that, I knew that God would forgive her first and asked Him to enable me to forgive as well. With the Spirit’s help I did, choosing to look upon her as a forgiven child of God, one with many imperfections, JUST LIKE ME!

Lord, how gracious you are to forgive my sins, my lapses in good judgement, my quick tongue, and my thoughts of self-importance! How wonderful that I may enter into your presence to experience your divine nature, despite my failures! Thank you that you strengthen me to quash the evil desires that still lurk in my heart. I look forward to my time in eternity with you when I may encounter the wholeness of your perfection! Amen.