Through this course I am finding that my sinfulness is reflected in my unholy keeping of the Law (or the laws I choose to keep) as much as in my acts of disobedience.
Neither of the sons in Luke 15 loved their father well or understood His love for them; the first because he left Him, the second because he thought his work made him commendable.
Life in the Spirit is filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control...this is not attained by simply "being good."
I've heard it said that Jesus came to make dead people alive, not to make bad people good (or good people better). When I commend myself to God because I've been a Christian for 15 years, have seen some bad habits broken, am good at my job and go to a good church I miss the point of the cross. On the cross Jesus was showing that for 15 years I've been a bad Christian, have many more bad habits than good, am helpless in my job, and go to a weak church...but He loves me and is redeeming all of that!
So I can cheer up because I am much worse than I think I am, but loved more than I can possibly imagine.
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Doug
ReplyDeleteI don't usually follow blogs because I don't have the time, and I am not in front of my computer a lot. I have to say, though, that I have been encouraged and inspired by your thoughts, and I am looking forward to hearing more. I found myself saying "AMEN" to a lot of what you are saying. We are to follow Christ and be "in Him" as He is "in us". He is not our self-improvement guru.
Keep going
Mark