No condemnation

Many of us have tried to keep the biblical injunctions to holiness in our own strength and, having failed, as inevitably we must, have concluded that the Bible does not mean what it says. But others of us, having been taught correctly about the power of the Spirit have indeed allowed him to fill us, but then discovered that we have fallen far short of some absolute standard which we or others had set for ourselves. Again, there was despair and the conclusion that the Bible only meant that we should try to be like God, knowing we never could be. But if we will keep in mind the distinction between “sin with a high hand” and “unintentional sin,” much of this despair can be averted. We do not have to perform perfectly to have a heart that is wholly right with God. And because our heart is perfectly God’s does not mean that we cannot be honest about our failures and shortcomings. In fact, having a heart that belongs to God completely will mean that for the first time we can really begin to get at the roots of our failures. Now that we do not need to explain away our failures or rationalize our inadequacies in order to protect our pride (the “flesh”), God is truly free to begin to work on these and to help us find his ways of overcoming them and neutralizing them.— Called to be Holy, page 177

<idle musing>
That's a freeing thought, isn't it? But we still prefer checklists...why won't we learn? Oh yeah, pride.
</idle musing>