Grace: It’s What Makes Us His

“Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.” Hebrews 7:25 (NLT)

I am so guilty of equating going to church and appearing church-like with being a Christian and appearing Christ-like. Yes, the church – God’s people – should gather together. God tells us this in Hebrews 10:25 – “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another …”. And yes, the church – God’s people – should mimic the character of Christ as modeled throughout Scripture.

But what about when these don’t match up? When the church fails to live like Christ. When Christians choose to go through life without the church. When churchgoers look less like Christ than those who don’t attend.

I find myself thinking about these things often.

When I meet someone who has never professed to be a Christian, yet they offer to pray over the needs of those who’re suffering and, many times, find ways to alleviate the suffering or at least offer help.

When I meet someone who has been a church member forever, yet they seem less than genuine in their quest for Christ. In fact, it seems their true quest is for the church building itself. Or maybe the power they feel by attending, by leading, by giving. The church becomes their church, not as in belonging to it but as in having power or ownership over it. The church becomes less about God and His people, and more about “me” and “my preferences”.

I guess the bottom line is this: sinful people make up the church just as sinful people make up our jobsites, neighborhoods, schools and communities. No matter where we turn, the people we encounter wrestle with sin.

The difference is some of those sinful people have trusted God to wipe their slate clean while others have not. Both groups will still make mistakes, but the first group is indwelled by the Holy Spirit whose presence should keep them from venturing too far off course. The problem arises when those people – God’s people – choose to ignore His Spirit and do their own thing instead.

I’ve found the more I hear God’s word preached, the more I surround myself with people seeking Him, the more I read His word for myself, the more I spend time with Him in prayer – the more closely my life resembles that of Christ.

So no, my church attendance (or lack thereof) doesn’t prove I’m a Christian. My choice to read my Bible and pray, or not to do so, doesn’t prove I’m a Christian.

But as Christians, we should long for Him. We should be drawn to Him. Through His word. Through time spent with Him. And hopefully, through gathering with fellow believers for the encouragement and accountability we so desperately need.

Lord, help me to not judge others as Christians or non-Christians based on what I see them doing or not doing. Instead, help me to love as you love. To pray for those who are struggling, both within the church and without. Help me to not place churchgoers on a pedestal, but to remember we are all sinful people in need of your grace. Every. Single. Day. Lord, open my eyes to see the wrong in me when I’m tempted to judge the wrong in someone else. Help me, Lord, to show your love and grace even if – even when – it’s not reciprocated. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Share and Follow!

2 thoughts on “Grace: It’s What Makes Us His”

  1. First time visitor, and now follower!

    Forgive me, I am exhausted, however, I must go on for now… in case of errors.

    The bottom line- is also the dividing line – there is at present moment TWO CLASSES of people- those who will inherit Heaven and those who will not. This is a definitive line, but for the majority of people including myself, the moment the bottom line refers to- seems to afar although seemingly nearer than ever, to be able to apply it to present day.

    What do I mean?

    For the life of me, like you, it just doesn’t make sense at all..- it is inexplicable, illogical, and inconceivable that there would exist men and women who simply refuse to acknowledge OUR CREATOR, – as you put it-

    “The difference is some of those sinful people have trusted God to wipe their slate clean while others have not. Both groups will still make mistakes, but the first group is indwelled by the Holy Spirit whose presence should keep them from venturing too far off course.”

    Exactly!! How difficult a choice it seems for some to make, as if you were asking them for a million dollars, yet, how easy a choice it is to make- without even having to think about it- for others.

    Just come to Him, by confessing, and asking for forgiveness, but ALSO as YOU WROTE AND IT is fundamentally necessary and required:

    “But as Christians, we should long for Him. We should be drawn to Him.”

    AMEN AND HALLELUHYAH!!! SAY IT AGAIN SISTER !! please!!

    “I’ve found the more I hear God’s word preached, the more I surround myself with people seeking Him, the more I read His word for myself, the more I spend time with Him in prayer – the more closely my life resembles that of Christ. ”

    This can only occur when we exercise and do the above things- as we long for Him in our hearts, desiring within out hearts – to get to know Our Father In Heaven, to know Truth,

    Finally, I say and write these things, because it astonishes me at present moment those who- say they talk to God all the time, who proclaim they read their bibles all the time, that they study all the time, YET- when you or I find ourselves in a conversation with them- we never hear them talk about how lovely, or how great God is, or how thankful they are for God, how grateful they are, what miracles God has done for them…. and yet- THEY LOVE , AND I MEAN THEY ABSOLUTELY LOVE to point at those of us- who fail Almighty God all the time, like me- and are quick to point their fingers-

    but what they will never understand, what will always evade them- is WHY THE GRACE FALLS UPON THOSE IT DOES- and it is because

    “The difference is some of those sinful people have trusted God to wipe their slate clean while others have not.”

    Bottom line- those that love Christ, will be sinners- they will not be HOLIER THAN HOLY PEOPLE- they will sin and fall, but they will CALL UPON THEIR FATHER IN HEAVEN AND CONFESS AND ASK HIM FOR FORGIVENESS AND PLEAD THE BLOOD OF CHRIST, in JESUS NAME, AMEN.

    One thing is certain- THOSE THAT LOVE CHRIST- TALK AND SHARE THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT CHRIST- and those who do not do so- it is because the love of Christ does not dwell within them-

    For those who love him, they shall – DECLARE, TELL, SHARE, TESTIFY, PRAISE, WORSHIP, GLORIFY, for free- no charge, and they shall serve joyfully at all they do, bringing GLORY TO HIS NAME, FOREVER!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories

Archives

Subscribe Now!

Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.
Scroll to Top