Self-Judging and Grace

July 31, 2017, By: Jimmy Scruggs

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40
As we mature in our walk with Jesus, in our recovery, we begin to outgrow the nemesis of grace, self-judging. It’s hard enough to start recovery and admit our failures, it’s even harder to move past our guilt and shame. I don’t know about you, but I spent many years in recovery holding on to shame and the past. I kept thinking that God wasn’t going fast enough to my liking and I wanted to get “well” fast. I kept pushing, which amounted to taking charge and going back to trying to fix myself. It’s not trusting God to get the job done, so we revert back to trusting ourselves… the outcome is obvious. We engage in trial and error over and over again, but with each perceived failure we may not realize that we are learning to trust God more. Self-judgment may still be strong in us and we can falsely assume that God has given up on us or that he is punishing us. That’s where grace comes in. We can’t earn God’s love by trying to fix ourselves or trying to be perfect. No, God’s love for us isn’t dependent on what we do for him, its unconditional; it’s what He can do in us. So the lesson in recovery is to stop being what you think you need to be for God to love you, be what God wants you to be, accept his love and in doing so you will be all you can be in God’s kingdom. Love God, love people, Jesus first! Dana Cramer // Celebrate Recovery at Crossroads

Celebrate Recovery at Crossroads Church Calendar July 31-August 6, 2017

Friday, August 4: Message Night
  • 6 pm: Our Hospitality Team is preparing a wonderful dinner for you. Please join us for food and fellowship.
  • 7 pm: Please join us as we celebrate God through worship and a message by James on “Gratitude.”
  • 8pm: Open Share Groups.
  • 9pm: Sold Rock Café
NOTICE: August 7: CR 12-Step Leader Training. August 12: CR Leader Meeting. August 14: New Men’s 12-Step Group, starting every Monday at 6:30pm. August 21: New Women’s 12-Step Group, starting every Monday at 6:30pm.