Yet Another Follow-Up on Why I’m Glad I Didn’t Ask for Prayer
Two posts ago, I explained that I was glad I didn’t ask for prayer during a recent pre-service worship team meeting, I had invited three guys from the gym, all of whom said they might come that day, but I decided not to mention that to the group because doing so would have been more about me as “the great outreach guy” than about my gym buddies and my desire that they further their relationships with God.
Last time, I reported that none of them ended up coming and stated I was disappointed but recognized that the story isn’t over. I continue my friendly chats about faith and Jesus with each of them.
This week, I’d like to mention another aspect of this story. John Hard, a friend from my Cru music ministry days, left an insightful comment on my original Face Book post.
I . . . recently have come to realize that there is practically nothing I do in my Christian service that doesn't still have some taint of my sin nature attached to it. . . . I need to . . . (acknowledge) that there is a sinful motive underneath the surface but that my genuine heart’s desire is for God to do something spectacular for his own glory.
I’ve said exactly the same thing many times. Even quietly making an online charitable donation has something in it for me – the pleasure of knowing I am helping a worthy cause. But should the fact that I enjoy helping others prevent me from doing so? Of course not.
Instead of beating yourself up when there’s some kind of benefit to you, you should humbly admit that there is always some degree of self-interest in even the most altruistic actions. And then move forward, asking the Holy Spirit to keep your less-than-ideal motives in check. You’re OK as long as you stay away from the tipping point where the value to you exceeds that of the value to others.
The Bible recognizes our dark sides. Jeremiah 17:9 teaches that human hearts are more deceitful than anything else and are incurable. And no lesser person than Jesus himself rattles off in Mark 7:20 the “contents” of human hearts: sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly. Not a pretty picture.
But thjs is only half the story. The great news is that if you:
Come to grips with your sinfulness and its implication (continued separation from God)
Recognize that the only cure is acknowledging your inability to be acceptable to God based on your own merits
Trust in Jesus’ death in your place to pay for your sins, and
Ask him to take over your life
everything changes.
Here’s what 2 Corinthians 5:17 says: “Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence” (God’s Word translation). And Romans 8:1 – one of my favorite Bible verses – delivers this incredible verdict: “ . . . there is now no condemnation for those whare are in Christ Jesus” (NASB1995). Did you get that? No condemnation.
According to the Bible, true Christians are sinners who have been redeemed. Both parts of that statement are 100% true. Some Christians read that thought this way: We’re sinners who have been redeemed. Others stress the second part: We’re sinners who have been redeemed! I plant my flag with the latter group.
We should never ignore our continued tendency to sin, but true Christians have been redeemed and are no longer subject to God’s condemnation. This is the way Jesus wants us to live, leaning into God’s grace.
If you’ve committed your life to Christ, although it’s important to remember the “dark side,” I hope you fully recognized you’ve been redeemed and live in the freedom Jesus offers.
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“Those who belong to Christ Jesus are no longer under God’s judgment”
Romans 8:1 (New International Readers’ Version
If you know Jesus, do you focus more on the idea that you’re sinful or that he has completely redeemed you?
How do you live in the truth that God has completely forgiven and redeemed you as a Christian without abusing his grace and failing to honor him in your behavior?
