Any
conscientious believer struggles with this question at some time or other in
his/her walk with Jesus: Am I being and doing all that He wants me to? How can
we know what that looks like and how to get a proper answer? Some questions we
need to consider:
1. Why is it that we find ourselves caught up in DOING things to be acceptable and pleasing to God but rarely think about the need to BE right with and pleasing to Him? Do we think that our DOING certain things will transform us into acceptable people?
2. What actually makes me BE all of the things God wants me to BE? Do I even know what these things are, or do I come up with my own ideas of what this looks like? Have I selected certain behaviors that pacify my mind and make me pleased with how I am doing with them without even considering that they may be totally different from what God wants me to BE and to Do?
3. Have I ever realized that what I DO must come out of a person who IS acceptable to God and not the way I BECOME acceptable to Him?
1. Why is it that we find ourselves caught up in DOING things to be acceptable and pleasing to God but rarely think about the need to BE right with and pleasing to Him? Do we think that our DOING certain things will transform us into acceptable people?
2. What actually makes me BE all of the things God wants me to BE? Do I even know what these things are, or do I come up with my own ideas of what this looks like? Have I selected certain behaviors that pacify my mind and make me pleased with how I am doing with them without even considering that they may be totally different from what God wants me to BE and to Do?
3. Have I ever realized that what I DO must come out of a person who IS acceptable to God and not the way I BECOME acceptable to Him?
Here are a few thoughts that may
help to answer some of the questions posed:
1. We often try to DO nice things, holy and religious things, pleasing and kind things in hopes that our score will add up to a ‘holy’ description in the eyes of God, ourselves and others. The truth, however, is that we must BE holy before our actions are really holy. We cannot make ourselves holy by our actions. Actions that are acceptable must grow out of a person who has been made holy, set apart, by God. Holiness as a state, a relationship with God, must be realized and prized, possessed and lived out before it pleases God. Many ‘holy acts’ have been done by selfish people with selfish and tarnished goals and motives. Many such actions are performed insincerely with the chief goal of elevating self in the eyes of God and others rather than stemming from a life cleansed by and devoted to God.
2. There are many, many passages in the Bible that list for us the traits we should have as believers. Take these for instance: Be kind, be patient, be strong, be perfect, be glad, be clean, be obedient, be zealous, be merciful, be witnesses, be transformed, etc, etc. And there are many that instruct us what NOT to be: Don’t be…afraid, stiff-necked, discouraged, stubborn, judgmental, troubled, proud and conceited, anxious and worried, deceived, etc, etc. It should be readily apparent that we are truly helpless to BE or to refrain from BEING the various traits and behaviors the Bible points out to us! So, why are these instructions given to us if it is impossible to BE or to DO them? And why do we keep trying to manufacture them ourselves, when we know in our hearts that we are not doing well? Some of us quit trying while others spend a lifetime working at it. What is going on? What are we missing? Is God playing a game with us or is there an answer to this?
1. We often try to DO nice things, holy and religious things, pleasing and kind things in hopes that our score will add up to a ‘holy’ description in the eyes of God, ourselves and others. The truth, however, is that we must BE holy before our actions are really holy. We cannot make ourselves holy by our actions. Actions that are acceptable must grow out of a person who has been made holy, set apart, by God. Holiness as a state, a relationship with God, must be realized and prized, possessed and lived out before it pleases God. Many ‘holy acts’ have been done by selfish people with selfish and tarnished goals and motives. Many such actions are performed insincerely with the chief goal of elevating self in the eyes of God and others rather than stemming from a life cleansed by and devoted to God.
2. There are many, many passages in the Bible that list for us the traits we should have as believers. Take these for instance: Be kind, be patient, be strong, be perfect, be glad, be clean, be obedient, be zealous, be merciful, be witnesses, be transformed, etc, etc. And there are many that instruct us what NOT to be: Don’t be…afraid, stiff-necked, discouraged, stubborn, judgmental, troubled, proud and conceited, anxious and worried, deceived, etc, etc. It should be readily apparent that we are truly helpless to BE or to refrain from BEING the various traits and behaviors the Bible points out to us! So, why are these instructions given to us if it is impossible to BE or to DO them? And why do we keep trying to manufacture them ourselves, when we know in our hearts that we are not doing well? Some of us quit trying while others spend a lifetime working at it. What is going on? What are we missing? Is God playing a game with us or is there an answer to this?
The first thing that comes to mine is the only way we are made holy is through the blood of Jesus Christ. We are saved to do good works not by our works. The word says that our righteousness is like a filthy rag. Christ redeeming act on the cross is the only righteous act that ever makes us acceptable to ever do any pleasing for the kingdom. And if we truly understand that one act we will be compelled out of love not out of obligation. I think the same love that compelled Jesus to go the cross is the same love (patience) that he has with us till we see it. Until we accept the God of grace and say thank you in earnest the race will still go on. WE MUST YEILD!!!! Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. PSALMS 85:10
ReplyDeleteOur only hope is Christ crucified! When our hearts are right the word says, the LORD's eyes keep on roaming throughout the earth, looking for those whose hearts completely belong to him, so that he may strongly support them.... 2 chronicles 16:9 It has always been a heart problem God wants to bless and move in the lives of His children. LORD MAY MY HEART BE RIGHT AND YOURS FOREVER!!!!