Stepping Stones: Guilt-Evoking Messages

Transformational Tip
Many pastors and priests try to whip their congregations into Christian action by delivering guilt inducing sermons. Whether to accept Christ as your savior... volunteer in children's programs....give money....become a missionary...the guilt-evoking messages press emotional buttons hoping you will want to relieve that uncomfortable feeling and engage in the behavior they are pushing. They try to get their people to "work harder", but the end does not justify the means. Let me clarify, we should feel guilty about our sin, sad there aren't enough workers in the nursery, angry people are being persecuted or starving in other nations, worried there is not enough money in the churches account to hire the right people, but, we shouldn't make decisions based on our emotions or feelings. That is where Satan wants us - emotional decision-makers. God speaks to us directly through the Holy Spirit, through His word, through our circumstances, and through others....giving us wisdom to make decisions based on His will and calling for us and based on what He prescribes in His word. I have personally experienced these guilt-evoking messages...they can unfortunately undermine the very foundation of grace in a believer's heart. Understand that God does not measure and judge you by the amount of good works you do; rather He looks into your heart. Remember the Holy Scripture;
"There is no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ..."
We should act to glorify God, not to relieve our uncomfortable feelings.
Today, monitor your emotions. Do you react before you think based on your emotions... or do you think and look at all the options before you speak and act?

Prayer
Dear Father God,
I do not want to be stressed out about not "doing enough" to be a good Christian. I know that You want me to relax in the assurance of Your perfect love. Help me today remember that You delight in me more than I can ever imagine and that You see me cloaked in Your light and presence...and that there is no condemnation for those cloaked in You. Help me with self control over my emotional responses and patience as You make clear the responses You desire of me. Help me Lord to each day come closer to having the Mind of Christ. Having emotions, but not emotionally driven.
I pray in the name of Your Son and my Savior Jesus Christ - AMEN

The Truth
I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest
Isaiah 61:10
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 and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Romans 8:1-2
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
Isaiah 26:3