A Backsliding Spirit

"The tendency to the lukewarmness of spiritual life is in us all."  - Alexander Maclaren

There will never be a time, in this life, when one can sit back and feel satisfied with their relationship with Jesus. Being Christian requires hard work and diligence on the part of the believer.

It's crucial that all who make a commitment to Him understand this. Taking our relationship with Jesus Christ lightly undermines it, and can leave us vulnerable to faithlessness.

Many have experienced a feeling of distance from Jesus for a period of time. This sense of moving away from Jesus is called "backsliding,"  or once feeling closer to Him than you do now.

Backsliding is a recurring theme in the Bible. For instance, there was Sodom in Genesis 19; David in 2 Samuel 11; Simon Peter (the apostle Peter) in Luke 22; Phygelus and Hermogenes in 2 Timothy, to name but a few.

Fortunately, God doesn't hold a zero-tolerance policy toward backsliding against us, or we'd really be in big trouble! He understands all of our human frailties and weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15).

And, God has also promised to heal us from our fickleness and unsteadfastness in faith (Hosea 14:4). Sin is a disease that is common to us all, and is cured only by the grace of God and the blood of Christ (Romans 3:23).

When we backslide or slip in our relationship with Jesus, it is a "relapse" back into sin. This is what makes backsliding so dangerous, and why if we don't seek help to restore ourselves we can be lost.

The only source that can heal us from all diseases of sin, and its relapses, is Jesus Christ, the Great Physician. Without question, he will do it according to his promise, and will never turn his back on any who ask for help (Matthew 7:7-8).

He can take away sin, heal the wounded conscience, and bring back peace and comfort by a fresh application of His blood. None are immune from backsliding, but all have a remedy in Jesus Christ.

Scripture: Jeremiah 8:5; Proverbs 14:14; Luke 9:62; Hosea 11:7; John 15:6

Prayer: Dear Jesus, strengthen me against sin and temptation, shower me with Your grace and mercy; and keep me always on the path that leads towards You, amen.

Bless you always,

Brielle