In the New Testament, Paul and Barnabas made many converts. Scripture says that they urged those new believers with these words: “By God’s grace remain faithful.” This is very interesting advice.
The new converts were not simply told “Remain faithful,” as if faithfulness was something they could achieve on their own. Had that been the case, they might have devised some formula of disciplines, thinking that by doing certain acts and saying certain words they would be what Christians are supposed to be. They might have written scores of “How To” books and appointed people with charisma or leadership qualities to rise above the rest and tell them what to do. They might have fallen into the trap of feeling spiritually smug when they achieved and guilty when they fell short.
Instead they were told that the key to faithfulness was God’s grace.
I can relate to those converts. Without God’s grace, there is no chance of my spiritual survival. Still, in my everyday life, it’s to my own benefit to maintain communion with God, to seek divine direction, to then choose His ways over my own, etc. I want – even try – to live that way, but ultimately it is only by His grace that I even come close.
The cycle continues. God gives me grace… I try to remain faithful… He gives me grace… I try to remain faithful… He gives me grace… And so forth.
Smith Wigglesworth, a follower of God who lived from 1859 to 1947, said “Pray as though it all depends on God, and work as though it all depends on you.”
Likewise, Paul and Barnabas said “By God’s grace remain faithful.”
It’s the Valentine’s Day season. Words of love and things heart-shaped are everywhere.
The combination of deep emotions and hearts has been around a long time. Jesus said that to love God with all our heart is one of only two things we must do to fulfill the entire law of God. (The other half is to love our neighbor as ourselves.)
The Bible also says “the heart is more deceitful than anything else and desperately sick.” A quick look at the world around us confirms this… so does a look inside myself.
God acknowledges that my heart is full of wickedness. Yet He wants me to love him with that same heart. Somehow He sees through the ugliness and accepts my love, and me.
To offer God the love of a pure, clean heart is impossible. But if I love Him in a desperately sick way, full of selfishness, ulterior motives, and grossly imperfect attempts at overcoming temptation, He’s OK with that. In fact, He longs for it with the deepest desires He knows.
Loving God with all my deceitful heart… It’s the best I can do, but it’s enough.
God has a lot of questions directed His way. Most of them start with the word “Why.” They go like this…
· Why is there so much suffering, and so little done to ease it?
· Why is love not more obvious in people’s actions?
· Why are some in need, while others around them have plenty?
· Why isn’t there more encouragement and happiness in the world?
What’s worse, it often seems that God doesn’t reply. Perhaps that’s because the queries are misdirected.
When I’ve brought such concerns to God, I’ve sometimes sensed Him turning the conversation around and asking me those same things. Of course I’m limited to what just one person can contribute. But He knows that and expects no more.
Inquiring of God is fine. It’s also appropriate to give Him answers.
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