January 2007
31 January 2007
Sometimes this Christian thing seems so difficult, doesn’t it? I’ve been doing it for a long time, too. I’ve had lots of practice. Yet, I still find that there are issues of morality or ethics - base desires if you will - that worm their way into my thoughts and actions. Someone cuts me off in traffic and my first inclination is to cuss at them and give them a hand signal that isn’t saying, "You’re number one."
Some days I have trouble mustering compassion for the poor folks whose lives have been damaged by the myriad of tragedies that befall humanity. I just don’t care enough. There’s too much on my plate today to care, to react properly in every situation, or to hold back the flood of unrighteous thoughts.
This of course leads me down the slippery slope called "give up" mountain. One would conclude that after all these years of practice this stuff would come as natural as walking. But it doesn’t. So I conclude with the Apostle Paul, "Oh, what a miserable person I am!" Jesus’ demand for perfection is too much for me. In fact, it is unreasonable for mere mortals. Guess I’m not much of a Christian and will never meet the standard.
Enter GRACE. Through all my years of practice, I have learned one critical discipline. I go back to Jesus over and over and over. I turn my thoughts towards Him, if only for a moment. I say a few words to Him. I request His help. I ask His forgiveness. And virtually every time He is there with His gift - grace. "I will give you rest. I will give you peace. I forgive you. I love you. You are my friend. You are my follower."
You see, the essence of Christianity is not morality, keeping rules, or doing everything right. The essence of Christianity is knowing Christ. When we focus on Jesus, everything else begins to work itself out. Only Jesus has the ability to transform our lives, so it is to Him that we go.
Then, we conclude also with Paul, "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus."
Sharing the Journey,
Pastor Don