God’s grace is such a precious thing when it flows into us through Christ, but even in humbly receiving this unearned gift we can sometimes be tempted into taking pride in it. Just when we feel the closest to righteousness we are tempted most by what might initially seem like a minor discomfort, or a subtle thought, yet soon is a painful sore rubbed raw by baseless pride, our sin.
Regardless of our church, whether Catholic, Orthodox, Pentecostal, or one of the other Protestant denominations, we all speak of the Holy Spirit, and acknowledge His presence, but we seem to be afraid of what we might find if He were to come in fullness upon us. We sing songs regarding the Holy Spirit, invite Him into our services, and pray prayers inviting Him to pour Himself out on us, but is this nothing more than lip service? Have we limited our understanding of Him to the point that we are crippled? Some limping on the right leg, some on the left?
Have you ever felt alone in your faith? Have you cried out to God, and not heard so much as an echo in return? Has the silence of God overwhelmed you to the point where you asked yourself if you had been abandoned? Are you in that place now? If this is you, and you are surrounded by silence, or loneliness, take heart, because God never deserts us.
Are you reluctant to pray because you feel that your ability to express yourself is lacking, and that you are unworthy to participate in a conversation with God... within whom all knowledge exists? Are you a pastor who feels more comfortable speaking with the well educated in his church than the childlike? Well, our God hears our words, but hears first from our hearts; not our mouths.
What are the things that that our Heavenly Father has given us? Today is Father’s Day, and it is appropriate that we should always remember it on a Sunday. As Christians we have two Fathers, one who is earthly, and another who is Spiritual. Each of these has a role to fill in our lives, and certain gifts to give us. Each teaches us, and makes us to be something more than we ever thought possible.
Do we rejoice when God moves in our life? We say yes, but are we looking for His hand in all the everyday occurrences? We give thanks for the dramatic movements of God’s hand, yet we are inclined to attribute the small and seemingly insignificant happenings in our everyday existence to either ourselves, or to the natural occurrence of life. Let’s look at our days through fresh eyes, and search for God there in new ways; then, when we see Him, let’s thank Him for His presence.
When you worship are you joyous, and lifted up, or do you approach the throne off God in tears, and sadness? When you sing hymns are they morose, or do they reflect the immense pleasure, and majesty you find in God? Being humble before God does not imply a lack of joy, it actually frees us to rejoice in Him, because we realize who He is, and that we are His children... His minions.
Do you resist faith, or neglect sitting at the feet of Jesus, because you don’t feel worthy, or perhaps you snub your nose at faith, and avoid Christ because you feel these things are beneath you. It doesn’t really matter what separates you from God, the great loss comes simply from your separation. We are no better or worse from one another when lost to faith, and unable to walk with the Lord.
Do we read God’s Word, and how do we do so? There are many ways in which we go about reading the Bible; we hunt and peck for truth in specific scriptures , we read certain chapters repetitively, we lean on favorite bible stories, we look for signs of Jesus in the Old Testament, or seek Him out in the New Testament, however we read it is good, but it is meant to do more than just teach us, or entertain us.
Loving God, and loving one another go hand in hand, both of these originate in God, and neither can exist in us without His love having first been given to us. Do you have trouble expressing love? Do you consider yourself a tough and worldly person? Perhaps you have confessed your faith with your mind, but your heart and soul are yet to experience Him.
Let’s ask ourselves an honest question today: “who do I live for?” We profess to love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind, and we go to the altar giving our lives to Christ, then we walk from that place and begin living once again for ourselves, our family, or something/one other that God, and Jesus. Why were we left here after our conversion? Why didn’t God transform us completely at that moment and take us to Himself?
Are you a Christian that is trapped in sadness, and when you look at Jesus Christ all you can see is the passion, and Him nailed to the cross? Are you like His disciples who went to the tomb to see a dead man they called Rabbi? Well cheer up, and stop dwelling on the cross, but take heart in the resurrection, and find great joy in the Ascension, and be thrilled in the arrival of the Holy Spirit. Look at all God has done in your life, and rejoice... it is only the beginning.
Do you tremble when faced with hardship? Do overwhelming odds cause you to run, or look for a place to hide? Do you surrender to sin, or to the unrighteous because you don’t see any way to be victorious? Well, if your cause is good and within His will, and if you believe that God can never be defeated, then you should not fear, or lose heart. God gives us certain victory.
If you have proclaimed your love for God, and Jesus Christ, then don’t make peace with evil, and don’t come to terms with sin. There is no room in your life for a peaceful coexistence with the very thing that desires to destroy you.
Are you resisting the urge to get on your knees today and ask Jesus to truly come into your heart because you don’t feel worthy? Have you toyed with believing, and tried to lead a good life so that one day you might make yourself good enough for Him? Well faith in Christ does not have perfection as a prerequisite, and walking towards Him is not a self-help endeavor, Jesus didn’t give His life for the perfect, He gave it for the lost, the sinners, the imperfect. He gave it so that you could ask for forgiveness and receive it by grace.