Sunday, September 6, 2020

Impossible Commands?

 

Do you ever read commands in the Bible and think to yourself that it's impossible to live up to them?

Do verses like: 

"Rejoice in the Lord always."(Phil. 4:4)

"Give thanks in all circumstances;" (I Thess. 5:18)

"Pray without ceasing" (I Thess. 5:16) 

seem totally out of your grasp? 

When you're faced with loneliness, failure, disappointment, or loss do these instructions sting a little? Does it seem like God is asking more of you than you are able to deliver? If so, I have good news for you! You're not expected to be able to fulfill these or any other of God's commands in your own strength!

You see, it's empty religion that tells us:

"try a little harder,"

"pull yourself up by your bootstraps," 

"turn over a new leaf,"  

"if you'll just work at it you can become what you should be."

But Jesus give no such command. Instead He says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) Unless we come to Him just as we are (poor, weak sinners in need of grace), and ask for mercy and forgiveness; it's hopeless to even try to live up to the directives of the Bible.

It's both freeing and convicting to remember John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." It's freeing in that we can stop trying so hard to do everything right by our own power and might. It's convicting because we recognize that our failure to live up to God's commands means we aren't abiding in Christ as we should be. If you find yourself there (as I did recently) - repent of whatever has become bigger than it should be in your life and get back to abiding in Him! 

 

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This post linked to:
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

1 comment:

Conniecrafter said...

We were talking on this subject this morning in Sunday school and will be for the next few weeks on God's commands. For sure our focus needs to be totally on him and the words he has given us to live by, may we never forget his faithfulness in the past, and how he will be always with us in the future!