Everyone needs Jesus

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:6–11)

A friend said, “I don’t know why faith is a big deal. I believe in God and that Jesus died for the sins of the world. So no big deal.”

I replied, “But what about your sins?”

Silence, then he said, “Oh, I see what you mean.”

Redemption, justification, salvation, and being reconciled to God is a personal relationship, not a philosophy, and none of it happens without the recognition and admission of personal sin. Yes, Jesus died for the ungodly, and that means you and me, because all have fallen short. 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Yes, He died for the whole world, but the benefit of that death is for those who believe in Him and receive Him into their life. All who do this realize that their faith is a gift and not their own doing — or at least we should for He said:

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (John 15:16)

And the entire Bible repeats it. Salvation is not something anyone can do by ourself,  nor is faith: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9) 

And this is why I call Him “Lord Jesus” — because He is the Author and Finisher of my faith and uses all things to transform me into His image. I can only agree with Him, agree all that He says and asks me to think and to do, because He gives me the faith and the power to respond. Without Him, I can do nothing. (See John 15)

Lord Jesus, You gave me this new day to love and serve You, to pray, to care about others and do whatever You put before me. I am Your child and You are my very life.

 

The Bottom Line

 

Our pastor has a little girl who wants to be certain of everything. He tells her what his parents told him, “It’s okay; the adults are taking care of everything.” He used this to illustrate how the desire of every person is to know that things are being taken care of, adding how we often try to do it ourselves. But we fail. We cannot control much — only God can and does. When we rest in that knowledge, our hearts are calm, and we know what it means to abide in Christ (John 15).

Today’s devotional begins with a similar thought: God always empowers you to do what He commands you to do. We need not be uncertain about anything for our heavenly Father gives us all we need to do all He wants us to do.

 . . . walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy . . .  (Colossians 1:10–11)

The alternative to being strong in His power is spiritual instability. This is described as “children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” (Ephesians 4:14) Or the lack of moral purity, or driven by emotions such as fear rather than sound thinking, or all of the above. Instead of seeking God’s solutions, He is replaced by therapists and psychologists, pills and alcohol, grumbling and a deep sense of failure. Even those who properly answer Sunday School questions can live without the enabling of our sovereign, all-powerful God.

The obvious diagnosis is disobedience, yet it can be a different issue. Spiritual growth comes in stages and one of those is realizing helplessness. If I think ‘I can handle this’ I will not rely on God’s enabling. He must show me that my confidence is misplaced, and He can do that by pulling back and letting me find out the hard way.

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12–13)

This is clear: it is God who works in me . . . not just to work for Him but to want to rely on Him, to will or desire His good pleasure. If I think I can do it, I will go ahead without prayer, without a sense of needing the power of Christ. That leads to failure, yet experiencing failure a few times might be enough to convince stubborn sinners such as myself that I must rely on Him. This is one reason God does not choose many capable people — those who are skilled take longer to train than those who have less confidence in themselves.

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. (1 Corinthians 1:26–29)

Sometimes people say, “I have no patience for that” without realizing by experiencing “that” (whatever it is) God will teach them patience. Trials do that:

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2–4)

Being joyful in trials may seem impossible. Learning patience in trials sounds more doable. This takes time, but trials do change our lives — simply because God uses them to show us that He is with us no matter what, using the struggle for our good, and thus enabling us to abide in Him when the next one comes along.

Spiritual stability is desirable. The devotional describes it as having biblical responses that are thoughtful, not worldly, emotional, or uncontrolled. It is being able to bear up under the stresses of life because of a deeper understanding of God’s purposes.

Lord Jesus, most of my Christian life has been characterized by spiritual instability until I realized You allowed the trials to train me to abide in You. This ‘education’ was not much fun, but the joy that comes with each ‘graduation’ makes the next step a delight rather than a fear. Thank You for encouraging me that the very best is yet to come — when I see You face to face then I will be like You (1 John 3:1-3.)

MORE: Read and reread Psalm 18. What does it say about God and about my trials? What did David learn from the many trials he faced?