If we are going to live as disciples of Jesus, we have to remember that all efforts of worth and excellence are difficult. The Christian life is gloriously difficult, but it difficulty does not make us faint and cave in—it stirs us up to overcome. Do we appreciate the miraculous salvation of Jesus Christ enough to be our utmost for His highest—our best for His glory?
God saves people by His sovereign grace through the atonement of Jesus, and "it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure" ( Philippians 2:13 ). But we have to "work out" that salvation in our everyday, practical living (Philippians 2:12). If we will only start on the basis of His redemption to do what He commands, then we will find that we can do it. If we fail, it is because we have not yet put into practice what God has placed within us. But a crisis will reveal whether or not we have been putting it into practice. If we will obey the Spirit of God and practice in our physical life what God has placed within us by His Spirit, then when a crisis does come we will find that our own nature, as well as the grace of God, will stand by us.
Thank God that He does give us difficult things to do! His salvation is a joyous thing, but it is also something that requires bravery, courage, and holiness. It tests us for all we are worth. Jesus is "bringing many sons to glory" (Hebrews 2:10 , and God will not shield us from the requirements of sonship. God’s grace produces men and women with a strong family likeness to Jesus Christ, not pampered, spoiled weaklings. It takes a tremendous amount of discipline to live the worthy and excellent life of a disciple of Jesus in the realities of life. And it is always necessary for us to make an effort to live a life of worth and excellence.
Before I was saved my life was depressing. I was lost, alone, and extremely selfish. Once I became saved my whole view on my life and who I was changed. It was as if God shone a light on my sinful self and I was immediately humbled and continue to be on a daily basis.
For example, for the past three months I know God has told me to send money for a person I know who sold everything and moved to Indonesia and is now pregnant. Her friend bought needed maternity clothing and shoes for their children and I was supposed to give her a portion of money to help pay for it all. Well, all I can think of is do I really have to do this because we can barely afford our monthly bills. Yeah, it wasn't a good enough excuse (as if He takes excuses) for God either. So although we have no job and our struggling today I sent the money.
I still have an inner war -the sinner I am and the Holy Spirit that fight to do God's will or my own. Before I was saved and after I was saved, I thought the Christian life meant all my troubles and hardships were behind me. I really believed that I would live happily ever after. I assumed that just because I was now a child of God He would protect me from the death of my sister, the near death of my daughter, the addictions Craig faced, the eating disorder I struggled with, the hurt from past abuses, the hurt of gossip from family members and the hurt of people in the church and family members judging my family and I. Wouldn't everyone see that I was clean now and repentant and humbled. Wouldn't everyone just automatically see that I chose to do the right thing now even if it was hard for me to do? Wouldn't people treat me right now because I was God's child and He could/would protect me from pain? Well, I quickly learned (slowly on some things) that God doesn't keep you from hurt. Just like a child who learns to ride a bike. As a parent you can't keep them from falling and scraping their knees. But if they are to learn to ride a bike they must endure those boo-boos. And they will be more careful and learn to navigate the bike in such a way that they can avoid some of those initial wounds and also become stronger and more skilled at riding that bike (which also allows for a much more enjoyable ride!).
I also was a weakling and pitiful. But through my struggles and bruises and scrapes through my faith journey I have learned to trust in God not man, to hold my tongue better (still struggle with this daily) on my personal life, to not hold on so tightly to those I love but make sure I show them my love for them, to share my faith even though I might be laughed at or mocked. It's amazing how the devil wants us to believe his lies that life will be easy with Christ...when in fact it will be harder than we ever imagined. How can I believe that life will be easy for me when Christ (God's own son) was beaten, mocked, hunted, tempted, and finally crucified. I should know I'm on the right path when I too experience and recognize these things from Christ's life in my own...and yet feel God surrounding me and giving me peace through it all. It is the path less travelled. And that is the path to heaven- "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14
I readily admit I am a sinner and that I am a clay pot being molded into perfection. And although I have not accomplished all my goals (running a marathon, racing in a triathlon, learning to ballroom dance, see my children become saved and baptized and married and have children, singing in the choir) I now know that the most important goals are those of my Father. And I write that happily knowing that's what truly matters...for that is when you know you are dying to yourself and finally recognize someone more important than yourself.
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