Devotional 050810

Dear brothers and sisters,
Good morning. Sunshine is blocked by a heavy layer of fog, but nothing can block us from the love of the Son who is always available for us. We simply call upon the name of Christ; our sweet Holy Spirit will remind us that He abides in us at all time. This is the new life we have received from our Heavenly Father. This is the good news that we are experiencing each day.

Someone says, “Listen, God doesn’t have time for your little problems. He is busy in the Middle East right now. He has bigger fish to fry. If you want something for yourself, you better get it the best way you can: buy this product and you will be important; wear these clothes and everyone will realize how distinguished you are; read this book and the knowledge will set you a cut above the crowd. Take care of yourself “

That sounds good; we begin to respond and then we hear Paul’s indignant, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you in the grace of Christ.” Instinctively, immediately, we know that he is right. The only good news that will make a difference is that the living God personally addresses and mercifully forgives us. He sets things right at the center. That is what we need. What we want. We determine that we will not abandon the free life of the gospel and live in the fantasy dreams that others paint for us and then sell to us for a fee. We will live forgiven and in faith, not as a bloodsucker on others, but creatively for others. We will not mope or cringe or whine. We will praise and venture and make. Let the people who tell us those lies about God be cursed!

The personal dimension of the gospel is good news about ourselves. The reality of what is within us is every bit as important as the news from the political, industrial and scientific centers of the world. Even if world peace were an accomplished fact and the domestic economy stabilized to everyone’s satisfaction, we still must deal with ourselves.

No matter how nice a house we live in, no matter how well educated we become, no matter how secure we feel in job or family, no matter how well we manage to provide an appearance of competence and happiness, if we are filled with anxieties and guilt and hopelessness, we cannot make it. If we cannot escape the conviction that we are no good or have no meaning, that is bad news. We need a sense of integrity and purpose. We need to count, to mean something, to be important to somebody, to make a difference.

Paul said, “It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine, but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that” (Galatians 2:20b).

This is the kind of attitude we should enjoy our new life in Christ. It is a constant spiritual battle and temptation to save ourselves or proof ourselves to be capable like god. The more we attempt to do so, the more miserable our lives become. Stop trying to play god. Start surrendering to God and live for His Son.

Love you because His love abides in us,
Lawrence