Balancing Act

Balancing is hard. At least for me anyway.

I just finished reading "Introduction to the Intertestamental Period" by Raymond Surburg. Overall the book was pretty dense, but I managed to get a lot out of it actually.

One interesting point was about the Pharisees of Jesus' time. When I read about them I often think of self-righteous leaders who looked for personal praise as they flaunted their Jewishness and ability to uphold every minute detail of the law, even if it was not what God intended.

This description might fit some of the pharisees we read about. But they had good reason to be the way they were. The Israelites (Jews) had faced intense persecution during this "Intertestamental" Period (Period between the Old and New Testaments). So to preserve the traditions, teachings, and faith they valued so deeply, some took it upon themselves to adhere to the teachings of the Torah. They took it seriously. They saw others around them become more like the Greeks and lose their Jewish faith and teachings. They did not want this to happen.

So, while trying to balance between losing all the teachings of the law, and following the law, they went to an extreme. What began with good intentions went way too far.

This has probably a way simplistic version of what I read, but I believe it is accurate.

I struggle with this same sense of balance. When I mess up and gossip at work, embellish my stories to make myself look better or to get ahead, or neglect those who need my help, I feel guilty. Which we know that God forgives and that all fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). We don't need to be overwhelmed with guilt. But we also need to recognize our sin so that we can repent.

I've been having trouble balancing the two. How can I be appropriately sorry for my sin without that turning into guilt that reflects my unbelief that God forgives? I want to be sorry for my sin so that I can repent and leave it behind, but too often that turns into guilt that weighs me down.

I thank God for His Word though. He keeps reminding me that because of Christ I'm forgiven. I don't need to do anything to earn that. Overwhelming myself with guilt won't "cure" me of my sin.

I wonder if anyone else struggles with this balance at times, and how God reveals to them his conviction of our sins but also his forgiveness. This is something I'm going to be praying about a lot. But in the mean time all I can do is turn to His Word for that comfort of forgiveness that it brings. Thank you Jesus.

PS. It took me about 10 minutes to take this picture. So hard to balance....No this is serious!