Simple Faith

The other day I sat down to have coffee with a friend. She is a new believer and she had many questions about God, the Bible, and how to live as God calls us to live. This precious friend had been struggling with one issue. It is the same issue I believe most get hung up on when first coming into a relationship with Christ Jesus. Some move beyond it, finding the issue is actually not an issue at all. Others get stuck in it and live their Christian lives chained in what we call legalism.

You see, my friend desires to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord. However, as she read through the Scriptures she was overwhelmed by all that God wants His children to do and not to do. Confused she asked me, "Don't you find being a Christian to be very hard?"

"What do you mean?" I questioned.

"You know," she continued, "there are so many rules. I have to do some things. I can't do other things, and there is so much I must give up!"

Oh, the old snare of Satan trying to convince the believer that Christianity is about rules and regulations. "Get 'em frustrated with a long list of impossible quests," he muses. "That will render them ineffective."

I smiled. I understood. For so long I tried to follow the List. I tried my hardest to avoid all the obvious sins - smoking, drinking, sexual sin. I struggled even more trying not to do certain, less obvious things - thinking rudely of others, being prideful, being selfish. I couldn't do it. I would stumble. Then I would beat myself up for my failure to be a good Christian.

Finally, God made it clear to me. My relationship with Him isn't about keeping to the List. Yes, He wants me to live a holy life and to avoid sin. However, I had it backwards. I was trying to do, say, and be all the right things through my own power. And as we all know, we don't have the power on our own to live righteously.

I thought through my answer and responded to my friend. "Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was. People wanted to know how they could live to please God." I smiled at her for I knew the answer would lift a great weight from her shoulders. "Jesus simply replied, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind....And love others as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-39) Simple, yet so complex.

God operates much differently than we do. He says relationships first, lists second. As we focus our energy on loving God in return for His great love for us, we naturally want to do what will please Him. We begin to understand that we aren't "giving up" anything. We are gaining an amazingly beautiful, eternal love for the Savior. We are gaining joy, peace, wisdom, and hope. We are gaining knowing the God of the universe, the Great Lover of Our Souls. We are gaining forgiveness. Christianity is never about the giving up. It is about Who we are gaining as we grow in our relationship with Him.

The next time you become overwhelmed with the List, remind yourself to simply focus on loving God. Open your Bible and read His love letter to you. Open your mouth and praise Him for His great love for you. Open your heart and hear his gentle whisper as He sings to your soul. Love Him, the list will then be satisfied as you live in intimate relationship with Him.

In my last blog I wrote about the Christ life being a process. Some days we will be victorious in our attempts to live as God calls us to live. Other days, we will fail miserably. I have been reading John Ortberg's book "Love Beyond Reason". Its message has meant so much to this believer for I need to know the extent of God's love for me personally. And something tells me that you do too.

Last night was rough. I messed up. I wasn't patient, kind, or gentle. In fact, none of the fruit of the Spirit was evident in me for a few ugly minutes. After my "fit", I felt bad. I mean really bad. What Christian woman yells at her children and husband? Feeling defeated I questioned, "God, how can you use me? I always mess up." The answer came sweetly and gently through this book I have been reading. Allow me to paraphrase His answer:

God deals with our failure much differently than we deal with the failures of one another. God is waiting and ready to forgive. He wants to bring restoration and healing. Scripture gives us a tangible example through the life and words of the disciple, Peter. I am sure as you read this you will grow to love him for he represents us so perfectly.

Peter loved the Lord. There is no doubt about it. Peter left everything to follow Jesus. He climbed from the boat to meet Jesus on the water. He even died a martyrs death for the cause of Christ. However, Peter messed up quite a bit. Scripture only gives us five examples of Peter's lack of mouth-control and self-control. (I am sure, though, that Peter messed up more than what Scripture records.)

On a dark night, during a serious rain storm, Peter was the only disciple to climb out of the small boat to meet our Savior on the water. We can commend him for that. However, Peter couldn't keep his gaze on the Lord and began to fear the storm around him. He began to sink into the water. He failed to fully trust Jesus. When Christ struggled to explain His path of going to the cross, Peter pulled Jesus aside and rebuked Him. Jesus turned and scolded Peter for speaking what Satan would have him say. How embarassed he must have been. While praying in the garden, Jesus asked Peter and two other disciples to stay awake and pray. Frustratingly, Peter and his friends fell asleep. Jesus was hurt. Peter failed to be there for his friend. When the mob came to arrest Jesus, Peter was the one who ran to His defense. Grabbing a sword, Peter sliced the ear of a soldier right off his head! Jesus gently rebuked him. I'm sure Peter felt pretty dumb. Finally, Peter's most memorable failure is when he denied his very Savior the night of Christ's arrest. Not once, not twice, but three times Peter vehemently denied knowing Jesus at all! Peter let fear get the best of him and had to eat the words he had spoken earlier - "I will lay down my life for Your sake." (NKJ John 13:37)

I can imagine that, after denying Christ, Peter came to a point where he determined God could not possibly use him. After all, he proved himself to be a proud, boastful, impulsive and cowardly man. However, after His resurrection, Jesus sought Peter out. Jesus called to Peter again. Jesus wanted Peter to continue to follow Him. Why? Because God has way too much invested in each of us to let us go. He has invested His heart. He has given us so many blessings. Finally, God has given us His Son. He has invested the whole of who He is in us. He's not going to give up on us that easily. No, each time we recognize that we have failed Him, God knows we are growing and learning. Yes, each time we are broken because of our sin, God knows we are of better use to Him. We become of more worth to Him as we realize how we have failed Him.

We know the end of the story. Peter went on to be one of the greatest witnesses for Christ. He preached and thousands came to know the Savior. We, too, can have a good ending to our lives as well. When we are willing to admit our short comings, when we determine not to give up on ourselves (for God hasn't given up on us), God can write a beautiful second half to our lives. God has invested Himself in you. You are of great use to Him. Don't give up!

The Process

Knowing and growing in Christ is a process. We do not become righteous, holy people over night. Often we frustrate ourselves and get frustrated with others when change takes time. Overcoming addictions, fears, sinful lifestyles, and habits requires we take one step at a time. Yes, there are times when a person is instantly freed from personal bondage, but as I look through Scripture, more often than not, I see people who must push through to overcome sin in their lives.

Abraham, the man God used to begin the Jewish nation, wrestled with sin. He was a great man of faith, but he stumbled a few times as he sought to follow God. Not once but twice he insisted he and his wife decieve the king of a country for fear he might wind up in a bad situation. Each time God rebuked him.

David, the man after God's own heart, the man who slew giants and ruled a nation, stumbled big time when he had an affair with a married woman and later committed murder to cover it up. In love, God confronted him and brought David to repentance.

Peter, one of the greatest preachers of all time, struggled with pride and a big mouth! Peter made promises he couldn't keep, lost his temper, and couldn't stand up for his best friend and savior Jesus Christ! God allowed him to come face to face with his inadequacies then restored him.

What these men and many believers who have followed over the years have discovered is that we must daily strive to overcome. Some days we are victorious, others days we climb into bed, pull the covers over our heads and weep. We fail. But, failure doesn't end what God is seeking to do in and through us. Failure isn't the end all unless we give up. You see, despite the failures of each of these men, God used them mightily for His purposes. God knew each was far from perfect. He also knew the heart of each man.

Do you, friend, wrestle with sin? Is there an addiction in your life that keeps pulling you down? Understand that walking out of that sin or addiction is a process. Don't give up when you mess up! Keep pushing through. Just because you stumble doesn't make you worthless in God's eyes. Praise God He can use us despite ourselves!

Do you have a loved one who just can't get it right? Realize that their growth as a believer is a process. Continue to speak truth to them, to love them, to challenge them, and to pray for them. But don't turn you back on them when they stumble. Christ is so patient with us. We need to be patient with one another. God can use your loved one no matter what and cause good to come out of his/her failures. He indeed gives beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. (Isaiah 61:3)

The Pursuit

Lately things are changing in my relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. For the first time in my life I am beginning to accept His devoted love for me. I am beginning to believe He can actually love someone like me.

From my earliest memory, I can recall having feelings of unworthiness and even self loathing. I couldn't understand how God could love me. I believed everything about me was a mistake, an accident, and even a bad joke. God would say He loved me. I would respond with disdain and disbelief. How could anyone love someone who couldn't get anything right? How could this holy God want to be near to someone who was nothing more than a problem that needed to be dealt with? Every time God would say "I love you," I would shrug and ask, "Yeah? For how long?" I couldn't fathom His eternal and unconditional affection. I believed I was the only person that God could not truly love. He pushed to draw close to me; I pushed to keep Him at arms length. I believed it was only a matter of time before He realized, like others before, that loving me was a terrible mistake.

Such erroneous belief fed my pain and fear. I was afraid to love others. I was terrified to let others love me. My soul ached to enjoy tenderness and affection with others, but my fear forced me to pull away every time relationships became too intimate. I felt lonely. I felt confused.

I am thirty-eight years old and for the first thirty-seven years of my life I have fought the idea of being loved. However, God has pursued me faithfully all this time. He would not let my spirit wither. He would not let my soul harden. In every situation He proved His faithfulness to me. When I would push to "prove" He couldn't possibly want to know me as His child, He would hold fast and not let me go.

Why am I sharing this with you? Why did I crawl out of bed at four in the morning to post this blog? Because I believe you or someone you know may struggle with similar fears and feelings. I want you to know, such belief, the belief that God does not or cannot love you completely, is false. You are not the exception to His grace. He does not look at you and think, "Bummer, I wish I didn't have to accept her into the kingdom." No! He rejoices over you! He sees your face and smiles with pride! He hears your voice and His heart leaps within His chest! You are His special jewel! You are His precious child!

You see, the enemy wants us to doubt God's love. When we walk in doubt, we cannot walk in victory. However, when we become secure in God's love for us, we are free to love others and to minister to those who need to hear of His love for them. You see why Satan tries to keep us in such bondage? When we embrace God's complete and unconditional love for us, God is able to change the lives of others through us!

Today begin your day by believing what our Father says about you, "I have loved you with an EVERLASTING LOVE." No ifs, ands, or buts. He loves you period. Walk in that truth. Walk in victory.

Everyone Needs Compassion

Everyone needs to know and feel the compassion of others. We are born with an inner longing to feel that we hold value in the eyes of another. As believers, we have an inescapable responsibility to value others not just with our words, but with our actions as well.

During His ministry, Christ reached out to the multitudes. He refused to show favoritism toward a person because of looks, social status, or popularity. Jesus' only requirement was a person's need. When the sick came to Him, Jesus healed them. When the mourning mother passed by, Jesus raised her son. As the lepers approached Him, Christ touched their impurities and made them whole again. The Lord was moved by the suffering of others. He is the very picture of how compassion should be lived out in our lives.

The world has not changed much in the area of needy people since the time of Christ. People still hurt, get sick, suffer loss, grieve the deceased, and feel hopeless. Let's face it, we all are needy in one area or another. There are some who are physically hurting; others lack financially. There are people who need emotional encouragement. And every one of us experience spiritual need. As the Body of Christ, we are here to minister to people with such needs. In doing so, we give the world a glimpse of the God who truly cares for them. And through their understanding of His concern for them, people will respond to the Lord.

Unfortunately, we often fail to recongize the opportunities God gives us to minister to another through meeting a need. In our fast-paced, drive through society we become consumed with the many things on our lists that must be accomplished. We brush by the homeless man as we rush to fill our grocery basket. We honk at the slow moving vehicle on the road in front of us failing to see the despair in the driver's eyes as we speed by. We grow increasingly impatient as we wait in line at the bank not realizing the man in fornt of us is in financial ruin. These eyes of ours become focused on one thing: ourselves. God never intended for us to be so self-absorbed. Through His example in Christ, He gave us a living example of how we are to minister to the world.

I have searched the Scriptures and haven't found one instance where Jesus rushed past a helpless or needy person without showing compassion or concern, or stepped over a beggar annoyed by the man's appearance. I do, however, find my Lord sitting on the edge of a well, in the midday sun, waiting to meet the need of a hurting and desperate woman.

As Jesus traveled the roads during His ministry, He came to rest upon the side of a well in Samaria. He and the disciples were journying to Galilee and the midday sun had reached its peak. Jesus sent the disciples ahead to get food, and He waited by the well. He was not waiting for the return of His friends, however, but for the woman who found it necessary to travel during the heat of the day to retrieve water so as not to bear the scorn of the other Samaritan women. As she approached the well, Jesus looked at her. He did not see her through the same eyes as those who shunned her, but through His eyes of mercy and grace. He saw beyond the exterior of this woman straight into her heart. Her brokenness and shame were apparent. Jesus knew that she did not need His condemnation, but His forgiveness. Through their encounter, she was not the same. Because of His compassion, the woman at the well became whole.

Today we are surrounded by people in situations as lonely and depraved as the woman from Samaria. Many of the people we come into contact with are desperate and needy. However, we fail to see their hearts because we are put off by their appearance or reputation. We quickly sum up others by looking at the outside of the individual. I admit that today sometimes the outward appearance is hard to get around. People wear signs of rebellion, and we feel they have no desire to meet the Great Healer. When in fact they put on an heir of rebellion to hide their insecurity and fear. Thus we fail to see the person who is crying out to be accepted and loved. We turn away and miss the great opportunity to see a shattered identity replaced by security in being an adopted child of the Mighty King.

The lost are valuable to God. The hurting are His passion. Our call is to mimic the heart of God as we reach out to this world in His name.