We come to God on His terms:
Ephesians 2: 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
These are God’s terms for salvation. You must believe, and if you’ll believe then He imparts the gift of salvation and sonship. He has prepared us for good works, which He enables us to do. This is where many denominations and groups really go off on different paths. Some believe God gives you your cross to bear and you drag it along, somehow atoning for your sin and if you don’t drop it you get to Heaven. Some believe you get saved and then lock the door and wait for Jesus to come get you. If Jesus wants someone saved , then He’ll give em the secret password and you’ll let them in. Some believe it is important to do many things for God and He will help you carry the burden of all your works. I think I land on the “river principle.” Believing obedience to God’s call & commands comes naturally as floating on the current of the river. You choose to believe God and allow Him to take you in the direction which “the river” is flowing. When you are seeking Him first it is not the work but the guidance of the Spirit that is our goal. But just as the gift of faith is from God, not earned by works, so is the unction to do a work. Though some work God leads you to may not always appeal to you, you “know” it’s a job given by God and you’re enabled by God to do it.
So all those things you want to do for God? Well let’s just say the Creator of heaven and earth isn’t exactly in need of your expertise; yet He loves us available, trusting, and obedient to His leading.
You don’t walk up to Mom while she is baking cookies and say, “Mom I know what we need here to make dinner complete is an apple pie. Now I have taken the liberty of peeling all the apples, if you could just start rolling the dough we will have this pie in the oven in no time.” But if we stay in the kitchen and are available and willing to help we just may be bowl-licking and feeling quite satisfied. We often presume to know better than God what needs to be done. We say we know God's will and then try to force His hand into blessing our efforts.
God has “prepared beforehand” the good works we should walk in.
Romans 8: 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
He has predetermined that all who will trust in Jesus Christ as Lord, will walk in good works; will be conformed to the image of His Son; they will be justified and glorified. These are the works of God and they will be done on His terms, on His timetable, and in His own perfect plan.
So why do we wait so long to hear from God? Why does it take so long to for the trial to be over, or to receive that answer to prayer? I suspect it takes so long because of the process necessary to surrender to God’s terms.
Pride keeps us on the merry-go-round so much longer than is necessary.
Next time you feel like giving up, you do just that! Give up and tell God, you’re in charge, please turn me the way you want me, set me on the river and I’ll let you worry about how I look to the world, and whether I can come out of fiery this trial smelling of smoke or not. This life of ours is His business; I guess that’s why it has to be on His terms.
Ephesians 2: 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
These are God’s terms for salvation. You must believe, and if you’ll believe then He imparts the gift of salvation and sonship. He has prepared us for good works, which He enables us to do. This is where many denominations and groups really go off on different paths. Some believe God gives you your cross to bear and you drag it along, somehow atoning for your sin and if you don’t drop it you get to Heaven. Some believe you get saved and then lock the door and wait for Jesus to come get you. If Jesus wants someone saved , then He’ll give em the secret password and you’ll let them in. Some believe it is important to do many things for God and He will help you carry the burden of all your works. I think I land on the “river principle.” Believing obedience to God’s call & commands comes naturally as floating on the current of the river. You choose to believe God and allow Him to take you in the direction which “the river” is flowing. When you are seeking Him first it is not the work but the guidance of the Spirit that is our goal. But just as the gift of faith is from God, not earned by works, so is the unction to do a work. Though some work God leads you to may not always appeal to you, you “know” it’s a job given by God and you’re enabled by God to do it.
So all those things you want to do for God? Well let’s just say the Creator of heaven and earth isn’t exactly in need of your expertise; yet He loves us available, trusting, and obedient to His leading.
You don’t walk up to Mom while she is baking cookies and say, “Mom I know what we need here to make dinner complete is an apple pie. Now I have taken the liberty of peeling all the apples, if you could just start rolling the dough we will have this pie in the oven in no time.” But if we stay in the kitchen and are available and willing to help we just may be bowl-licking and feeling quite satisfied. We often presume to know better than God what needs to be done. We say we know God's will and then try to force His hand into blessing our efforts.
God has “prepared beforehand” the good works we should walk in.
Romans 8: 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
He has predetermined that all who will trust in Jesus Christ as Lord, will walk in good works; will be conformed to the image of His Son; they will be justified and glorified. These are the works of God and they will be done on His terms, on His timetable, and in His own perfect plan.
So why do we wait so long to hear from God? Why does it take so long to for the trial to be over, or to receive that answer to prayer? I suspect it takes so long because of the process necessary to surrender to God’s terms.
Pride keeps us on the merry-go-round so much longer than is necessary.
Next time you feel like giving up, you do just that! Give up and tell God, you’re in charge, please turn me the way you want me, set me on the river and I’ll let you worry about how I look to the world, and whether I can come out of fiery this trial smelling of smoke or not. This life of ours is His business; I guess that’s why it has to be on His terms.
Comments
Post a Comment