Lamentations 4 Sermon Reflection
The Christian life is one filled with shortcomings and failures. God calls his people to a standard of holiness in a world concerned with everything else under the sun. When I was growing up, I had a tendency to label those who cared about holiness as “legalists.” My understanding of grace was so myopic and small that it was almost opposed to obedience and holiness. It seemed like a great effort in pursuing holiness was reserved for those who didn’t understand what Jesus had done for them.
As I look back, my understanding of holiness has radically changed. After all, it was Jesus who commanded his followers to be perfect. (Matthew 5:48) There are many exhortations in the Bible to pursue holiness and obedience to God, but what do we do when we inevitably fall short of the standards demanded of us? How do we avoid being crushed by the weight of perfection and holiness?
The Good News is that what God requires, he also provides. As we behold the beauty of Jesus in the Scriptures, in prayer, in the body of his people, and in the Sacraments, he conforms us to become more like him. We’ve all tried and failed in our pious attempts to avoid sin. The key in our pursuit of holiness is not grand-scale behavior modification; the key is to look continually to Jesus. Week by week. Day by day. Hour by hour. We look to the crucified and risen Jesus who “has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.” (II Peter 1:3)
Our white-knuckle efforts to avoid sin are not wrong; they’re merely incomplete if they’re not driven and sustained by an awe and worship of Jesus. We need to confess that we do not have enough willpower on our own to avoid falling into temptation. We will find freedom from sin when we encounter Jesus in the Bible, in prayer, in fellowship with his people, and in the Sacraments. He meets us in those places, and he has come to give true life and freedom.
Jack Voigt is a Christian Studies major at Anderson University. He grew up in Greenville, SC. His favorite ways to spend time are music, sports, and reading the Bible.