Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity
Psalm 18:2-6 (ESV)
18:2
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take
refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
18:3
I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.
18:4
The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me;
18:5
the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.
18:6
In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.
12Step.org Comments:
David proclaims the strength, protection and deliverance that comes from the Lord. When David was overcome with sorrow and fear, he called upon the Lord, and the Lord heard him in his distress and brought safety and deliverance. During the second step, we search for a power that can deliver us from the insanity of our addictive behaviors. This power needs to be something or someone on whom we can rely and in whom we can have confidence. David's witness in the Psalms as well as the experiences of many, many others as recorded in the Bible and throughout history attest to the faithfulness of the Lord in providing safety and deliverance from distress when we turn to Him in our sincere need.
Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)
11:28
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
11:29
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you
will find rest for your souls.
11:30
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
12Step.org Comments:
This is a promise that when we come to Jesus we will find rest. This is so much needed to save us from the insanity of our addiction that we admitted in step 1. We have carried the yoke of slavery of our addiction for a long time. Jesus promises a different type of a yoke, one that is light and easy, one in which we can find rest and peace. And how needed is that rest! Addictive behaviors usually rob us of this rest, whether it is from staying up all hours of the night and morning as we seek our addiction of choice or whether it is from the troubled sleep that we have from a guilty conscience and polluted body and mind from our addictive behaviors. How blessed is the rest and peace that comes, then, from the One who is our peace.
Matthew 12:18-21 (ESV)
12:18
Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
12:19
He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
12:20
a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
12:21
until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope.
12Step.org Comments:
This is from a prophecy from the book of Isaiah about the Messiah. Jesus fulfilled this prophecy when He showed Himself to be a Messiah of meekness and yet justice, gentleness and strength, victorious and trustworthy. He did not strive or cry out but went forth in quiet victory, bringing justice. He is someone in whom we can trust. In the second step of the 12 step program, that is what it is all about - someone whom we can trust to carry us out of our sin and the burdens of our addiction. And Jesus brings this deliverance in such an approachable way, not striving or crying out, but gently offering to us the victory through His grace and gentleness towards us.
Hebrews 2:14-18 (ESV)
2:14
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of
the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death,
that is, the devil,
2:15
and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
2:16
For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham.
2:17
Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become
a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the
sins of the people.
2:18
For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being
tempted.
12Step.org Comments:
This passage from Hebrews states how Christ took the form of human flesh and blood as He walked this earth. He did this out of compassion and love, to deliver us who were "subject to lifelong slavery". And the way that He could do this is that sin was not found in His life. We are not like that. From our first step, we know that sin has not only been in our lives, but it has taken control of our lives, making us powerless over the sin. Jesus had no sin in His life, even though He lived as a human being like us. Being a human being, He knows firsthand how trials and temptations can abound - "he is able to help them that are tempted". Being sinless, He can act as our high priest before God, reconciling us to God in spite of our sins. He is unique in the history of mankind, for no other man lived a sinless life before God. And we can be very thankful, because Christ Jesus didn't live such a life in order to condemn us or set Himself apart, but so that He could identify with us, make the perfect sacrifice and save us through His love.
