Tuesday, November 1, 2011

God’s Truth Sets Us Free

For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, so God declared him to be righteous.”

-- Romans 4:3

But people are declared righteous because of their faith, not because of their work.

-- Romans 4:5

We can’t earn salvation. Most of us know that. So why do we keep trying? Why do we find it so hard to accept the grace God has offered us? Why does the idea that Jesus Christ died horribly on a cross for you and me seem so far beyond what we can comprehend and accept?

Everything about what God has done for us, what Jesus has given us, goes against human nature. Obviously. God is, well, God. We can’t possibly comprehend His ways. Yet we try. We want to understand what we can’t possibly understand.

How can we believe we’re really saved, that we really have received the gift of eternal life, if we can’t accept that the gift comes without strings? Really. We believe so therefore we are saved. Faith. That’s all it takes.

We want to earn our salvation but we can never, ever be good enough to earn an eternity with God. So we want to know why, and how, God could love us so much that He’s willing to send His Son to die for us. In our world of people always expecting something in return for every good deed, it just doesn’t seem possible that the Creator of the universe would do something so loving and kind for those who can’t begin to deserve it.

But a funny thing happens when we slowly do begin to accept His gift. We want to do good. We want to be kind and loving and generous. While our deeds can’t save us, we want to please God. We want those we encounter each day to see Jesus’ light shining out from us.

Beth Moore made a wonderful observation in a DVD study. She said that our actions show our true belief systems. When we don’t believe ourselves worthy to accept God’s gift, we fall back into our old ways again. Self-sabotage, if you will. We know we aren’t worthy so we behave accordingly. It’s when we let go of that belief that we are truly free.

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” -- John 8:32

Friday, February 4, 2011

Believe God

"Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." -- Romans 4:20-21

I want to have faith like Abraham. I want to believe God in all things. I want to trust that He not only can do the impossible but that He will. I get so angry at myself when I doubt. I know better. How about you?

God told Abraham that he would become the father of many nations. Abraham didn't focus on his advancing age or that his wife was well beyond childbearing years. He didn't see all the obstacles. He just believed God. And you know what? God did just what He said He would do.

Beth Moore wrote a Bible study a few years ago titled "Believing God." Awesome study. What do I remember most about it? "I'm believing God." It was the last phrase of  a bit she taught us to help us remember who God is and who we are in Him. It's a constant reminder to me that all those promises in the Bible are intended for me too. How awesome is that!

That's the problem most of us have. We believe God. We really do. And we trust Him. Totally. So long as it involves someone else. Is it that we don't think we're worthy of His love and help, forgetting that we are His child? Is it because we are like a toddler determined to do the task by ourselves? Pride is a horrible thing, especially when it keeps us from receiving blessings God would gladly give us.

Blind trust is such a difficult thing. We don't always seek the big picture. Actually, we rarely see it. We're so focused on what is right in front of us, of the obstacles we see as insurmountable, that we can't see the possibilities. God can do anything. Just ask Abraham. Believe that you are important enough, valuable enough to Him, that He'll do anything for you. Trust Him. H won't let you down.