“In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, He has given the Son absolute authority to judge, so that everyone will honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent Him. I tell you the truth, those who listen to My message and believe in God who sent Me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.”
We’re so prone in many of our judgments to lean on how we feel. Our emotions override our intellect in many ways and at many times. We say things like: “What are you liking for… a movie, food, vacation, a class, a date, even a church.” We allow our heart to overpower our head in making decisions that too often lead to misfortunate results, especially as it pertains to our spiritual development.
Someone will ask us: “You going to church?” and our response is: “I’m just not feeling it!” “Have you been reading the Bible?” And our lame excuse is: “I’m just not getting anything out of it.” Or “How’s your prayer life going? Have you been building your life in the Lord through regular times of prayer?” And we blame our negligence on the Lord: “He just seems so far away.” Remember: excuses are like armpits; we all have them and they all stink!
As a result, it becomes very natural for us to project our negative feelings onto the Lord – “The Lord must think I’m such a slacker. Will I ever measure up?” When in reality the Lord knows exactly who we are, what we think, how we act, and why we do everything we do, say or think. He understands our “slackness” in not attending church, reading God’s Word, or reluctance to pray has more to do with our spiritual immaturity than our emotions.
Yes, of course, emotions rule in an immature believer, but at some point, we must, by God’s grace and the empowerment of the Spirit move beyond our feelings to taking the necessary steps to walk with the Lord. “But what if I can’t?” Therein lies the critical question! “Can’t” is a human response governed and defended by human feelings disguised as excuses. The bottom line for a believer is: “I can do all things through Christ who is my strength!”
To allow the enemy to stagger our growth and development in the Lord is to illustrate we may never have begun the relationship in the first place. Does that mean new believers never struggle? Of course they do, but struggling and refusing to begin your journey are two different things. We all doubt ourselves and it takes time to recognize how the Holy Spirit is going to work in and through us effectively, but ultimately, we must determine we’re going to try new things, even if we fail, and I assure you, we will, especially at first.
We shift our eyes from our failures to the Lord’s victories in and on our behalf. He’s NEVER failed, His power is limitless, His patience is beyond measure, His grace is sufficient, and His forgiveness is unbelievable. When He forgives, He forgets and He promises our transgressions and sins will never be remembered against us again. Because our sins have been washed in His blood, a redeemed, born-again believer in Jesus has nothing to fear or dread. “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)
Does that mean we can just “coast” into heaven? Of course not, it means we work like mad, not to earn what Jesus has already done for us, but to express our gratitude for who He is and to express our worship and honor for being given the privilege of being His slave, a child of the living God. Only in heaven will we fully understand and be able to adequately express our thanksgiving to and praise of our risen Savior, but in the meantime, with all that is within us we live with praise, gratitude, and honor on our heart, mind, and lips as the motivating forces of our life because we know how much the Lord cares about us!
How does He feel about us – YOU? He allowed His only, sinless Son to take our place on the Cross to pay the penalty for our sin and offers us forgiveness and a place in heaven on the basis of His grace alone, by faith alone. It just doesn’t get any better than that! NO love is greater than God’s love for us – for YOU and for ME! Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 