You have probably heard the expression "there's a method to the madness". I have used this expression many times throughout my life, usually to excuse a mess or justify my laziness, but as I was having my quiet time with the Lord recently, I realized something....there is no method to the madness in thinking that I am justified for my sins. Let me explain...
The only author I read on a consistent basis is Oswald Chambers. His book My Utmost for His Highest is my daily sidekick. I am moved by a single sentence, convicted by a question, or sitting in perfect awe of the magnitude of God's love for me after every one of his daily devotions. (You MUST get this book if you don't already own it). These two passages seemed to jump off the page:
October 28th -"I am not saved by believing - I simply realize I am saved by believing. And it is not repentance that saves me - repentance is only the sign that I realize what God has done through Christ Jesus. The danger here is putting the emphasis on the effect, instead of on the cause. Is it my obedience, consecration, and dedication that make me right with God? It is never that! I am made right with God because, prior to all of that, Christ died."
October 29th -"Our sins are removed because of the death of Jesus, and the only explanation for His death is His obedience to His Father, not His sympathy for us. We are acceptable to God not because we have promised to give up things, but because of the death of Christ, and for no other reason."
Then I read 2 Corinthians 2:17-21 - "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
Wow...
I started thinking about how there is absolutely NOTHING we can do to be saved. It is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. Our repentance, believing, behavior modification, and impossible promises are simply signs of the Holy Spirit's work within us, not our salvation itself. That is wonderful news! I needed to be reminded of this.
There are days when I feel the pressure to "be" a better Christian, better wife, or better mom. I get discouraged when I have days filled with impatient outbursts, bad attitudes, laziness, or a million other character flaws. On those days I feel like I've let God down somehow, like he must be so disappointed in me. I have days where I feel like I let my husband and children down, don't love them enough, don't serve them like I should, get impatient....I fail, and just like I don't ask Christopher if he will go back to the altar with me so I can re-do my vows, or ask my kids if they still want me as their mother (because they have no choice!), why do I sometimes feel like I need to ask God to "take me back" or feel the need to have lengthy repentance prayers to get his attention? It's madness! He knows me! He knows that I am incapable of living my perfect day, every day. He has no expectations of me, no check list. My primary responsibility is to make sure that I am in right relationship with him. If I am doing that, I am doing my best.
When you have one of those days just remember that he loves you, more than you could ever know. You are saved and in right standing with him because of Christ - not your own doing. This is a message of grace. We are saved by grace, not works. And while I've always known that, I still need to be reminded from time to time to relax. I make it harder than I need to sometimes.
Ponder this: You are loved by a perfect God who does not expect you to be perfect!
