See today our Lord's call to the unbelievers through Joel. We see as we look at his claims upon them that we too often act as unbelievers. Do we think we will provide what we need? Do we think we enter into service to God in order to supply what he needs? Do we view ourselves as doing works that are pleasing to our Lord in and of themselves? Do we give to God so that he has what he needs? This is entirely backwards. It is a work to earn our own salvation. In the end it earns not salvation but condemnation. What does the Lord say to us when we strive to bring ourselves into the good graces of God? He says we are welcome to try. He has provided all we need for life, hope, salvation through Jesus Christ. But if we wish to pay him back, if we wish to earn his favor, he will allow us to try. Sadly, tragically, we realize from Scripture that we are utterly unable to succeed in this attempt.
Do we wish to earn our salvation? The Lord allows us to try and to go to heaven based on our merits. Yet we will never do so. Our attempt to pay our own way is entirely futile. It is an offense to God, who has provided our way in Jesus Christ. Yet he has left it to us. If we insist, as the pagans do, we may try to earn our forgiveness, instead earning our condemnation. The final analysis is whether we trust ourselves or we trust in our Lord.
Lord, you who have perfectly paid the penalty for our sin through living a sinless life, giving yourself to death on our behalf, and showing yourself victorious over death, hell and the grave, grant that we also may trust in your righteousness for eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment