Consistently struggling with sin in our lives is either the result of (a) not understanding the severity of our wretchedness or (b) not respecting enough the unbelievable grace Christ has poured out to us. Balancing the understanding of both our wretchedness and the beauty of grace is honestly very difficult. If you live in constant shame, you are still living with a burden that should be bourn by Christ. If you don’t understand your depravity without Christ, how can you ever love Him with the proper dependence? Oswald Chambers wrote “my attitude as a saved and sanctified soul is that of profound humble holiness (there is no such thing as proud holiness), a holiness based on agonizing repentance and a sense of unspeakable shame and degradation; and also on the amazing realization that the love of God commended itself to me in that while I cared nothing about Him, He completed everything for my salvation and sanctification.”
I believe that in seeking ‘profound humble holiness’, we must first focus on truly falling in love with our Savior. It’s impossible to measure up with enough holiness from a legalistic perspective — plus, that would be proud holiness. If we are in love with Jesus, seeking obedience is our natural action. Therein lies true satisfaction and purpose.
