From His Heart - Week of January 27

What to Do When You Fall

For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness for all who call upon You.
Psalm 86:5 

Do you remember the old commercial by a medical alert company called LifeCall that had the tag line, “I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up”?  LifeCall was promoting a small communication device that older people or disabled people could wear as a necklace.  This device would provide instant assistance for them in case of a fall.  The product gave the wearers confidence, even if they lived alone.  As long as they could hit the button, they could get help … and get back on their feet. 

HAVE YOU FALLEN?  

Lots of Christians I know have fallen into sin, and they are having trouble getting back up.  You see, when you and I fall, the devil is quick to move in and say, “Look at you!  And you have the audacity to call yourself a Christian?  What a hypocrite you are!  What a liar you are!  You’ll never get back up … so my advice to you is to stay down and just accept facts: you are a failure and a fraud.” 

Have you ever heard that familiar voice of the accuser?  Interestingly, when the devil speaks to us, he makes his voice sound like ours.  He tries to make us think his damning, hellish advice is coming from our own “correct” understanding of the circumstances.  Remember, he is a liar and the father of lies.  He will do anything to keep you down. 

And when the devil says, “Give up,” God says, “Get up!”  “For a righteous man falls seven times, and RISES AGAIN” (Proverbs 24:16).  No righteous man or woman is immune to falls.  But when you do fall, you must not stay down. 

God gives every person a LifeCall necklace … and He wants us to use it!  When you and I fall into sin – whether that fall is an unplanned slip (I slipped into this sin that knocked me off my feet), a careless trip (I let my guard down and the devil pounced on me with temptation), or a blatant dive (I knew it was wrong, but I did it anyway) – there is a way back up.  You must quickly hit the LifeCall button, and cry out to God in repentance and confession.

HE IS READY

One of the features of LifeCall was 24 hour coverage, 7 days a week.  So it is with God.  He is ready right now to forgive you and lavish you with His mercy and love.  Jesus didn’t come to condemn us … He came to save us. 

Are you holding on to sin in your life?  Are you clinging to sexual sin or bitterness or pride or selfishness?  Sin is like cancer.  Unless you and I get it out of our lives through repentance and confession, we will stay down and diseased.  (Remember how the prodigal son LEFT the pigsty and went to his father and confessed his sin BEFORE he was restored?)  But, the moment we let go of our rotten sin and cry out to Him, He comes and gently, lovingly cleanses our heart and raises us up. 

As you read this today, search your heart.  Be honest.  Have you fallen?  Do you feel as if you can’t ever get up again?  Hit your LifeCall button.  Cry out to Jesus.  He loves you and is so ready to forgive and restore IF you are ready to leave your pigsty and come to Him. 

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Love, 

Jeff Schreve
Pastor

jeff@fromhisheart.org
1-877-777-6171

P.S. Many people have asked how From His Heart got started. Debbie and I were asked to sit down and recall how God encouraged us and opened doors for this ministry. As you listen, I hope you are encouraged to see what God can do in your life as you trust and obey.