03/23/2024
As I thought about how we sometimes come face to face with our doubts, or suffer from a dwindling faith, I looked back on my own life as a Christian and could see how I had experienced moments like this too. Then I would come to the point where I realized that moving about and doing works doesn’t insure that I am devoted to my faith in God and Jesus. Over the years I have watched as people professed their faith, began frantically working in the church, and for church causes, then suddenly disappeared from the pews. They had missed the most important part of their conversion... that we can't earn it... it is a gift, and a free gift at that.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23 ESV
So like me and so many others, these folks had started cooking meals, collecting canned goods for the hungry, working on church work days... You get the drift! Then somewhere along the way they found out that they were missing a key ingredient of following Jesus, they had missed the fact that reaching eternity is not something we earn… it is a gift. They come to realize that they are feeling lost because they aren't perfect; that they will fail in some way, perhaps every day, and soon they began to feel like total failures or hypocrites. When this happens they reach a point where they throw in the towel. They never seek help from those around them or ask the pastor why they can't seem to follow Jesus perfectly. They don't study or seek out what it truly means to follow Jesus or to believe in Him.
This is a sad situation. In all of their desire they have missed the key ingredient... that they were saved by grace. They substituted actions for devotion and failed to hand the reins of their life over to God. They had missed what it means to be in a relationship with God, and His Son Jesus.
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19 KJV
This is like calling for a limousine and then wanting to drive it yourself... that isn't your job; you must trust the chauffeur, sit back and take in the scenery, and then thank him when he opens the door at your destination. The limousine trip is for you but it has nothing to do with you actually driving the car. Granted, Jesus is a bit different... You don't have to ask Him for a ride (redemption), because He gives it freely, and is there at your door waiting for you when you need Him.
“ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV
Do we see now how we can't earn our way into heaven? We can't simply work our way into the grace of God? No, we don't have the right stuff for that, we can't do enough jobs in a lifetime to even lift our feet off the ground. So how do we gain forgiveness and appear pure in the eyes of God? The good news is that God has already made this provision for us through His Son, and it requires nothing but our devotion to Jesus and Himself. In fact, Jesus gives us this answer himself in a couple of scriptural references...
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
John 14:6 KJV
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.”
Luke 9:23-24 KJV
Our devotion is to God and His Son who understand our frailties and are willing to forgive us our sins if we sincerely ask and repent. One of the most wonderful scriptures is in Psalm 103 where we read of God's perfect forgiveness.
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.”
Psalms 103:8-13 KJV
So to those who strive and fail, or run and fall, I can tell you as my earthly father used to tell me when I fell in life... "Get up and get back on that horse!" Yes, Our Heavenly Father wants us to get up (ask for forgiveness), brush ourselves off (repent), and get back on the horse of our faith (devote ourselves) too. Our forgiveness isn't based on the completion of some penitent task or trial, it’s simply asking, repenting, and fearlessly renewing the devotion of our lives to Him.
Don't beat yourself up when you fall just get back on the horse that God has provided you.
Prayer:
Thank you Father for sending your Son Jesus to live, die, and be resurrected for us. Thank you for His sacrifice that we would be made pure, and forgiven by it. Although we want to do wonderful things for you because we love you, we know that when our gifts or works are imperfect that you will still receive them because they are given joyfully from our hearts. Help us Lord to overcome our feelings of failure when we hold out our unfinished, or childish gifts to you and begin to feel less because of them. Let us see our faith through your eyes, and know that in Christ you are pleased with us and all we do for you. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our perfect God who perfects us in Christ when we are less than perfect in ourselves. Hear our prayers when we are asking you to strengthen us in our faith during those times when we are feeling dejected, or made despondent by having succumbed to temptation. We will praise your name Holy Father for thus helping us in our unbelief, and for judging us in Jesus and not in ourselves. Give us a boost Abba when we need to get back on our horse of faith, and encourage us as we place our foot in the stirrup of belief. We will give you all the glory Lord as we sit tall in the saddle, and once again bring our faith to a full gallop in Christ.
Rich Forbes