the majority of our christian walk, we are struggling to grow closer to the Lord...to not let sin entangle us...to be more than we are today, tomorrow. and yet, so often we are held back from growing, not merely from a lack of discipline or diligence, but by our reputations. by the fact that we used to struggle with blah-blah sin. we all have those sins. we all have those reputations. so why don't we let each other grow, to change? this i think might be one of the church's fatal flaws. that instead of spurring one another on to growth, we remind one another of what we used to be. focusing on one another's flaws takes the focus away from the most important aspect of all of our lives. the fact that the God of all creation showered us with grace, knowing not only the mess that we were before Him, but the mess that we would be after. so if the God that merely spoke the world into place does not condemn me for my struggles, but prays for me to break free of them, why do we not do the same for one another?

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."