But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  – Romans 5:8

If I ever doubt God’s love for me, I simply go to Calvary in my mind.  There I find Jesus giving His life for me.  There I realize all that He did to make my salvation possible.  Jesus left Heaven to come here and voluntarily be treated the way He was treated.  He could have lived in such extravagance and opulence, but He had nothing to do with any of that.  He chose to surrender to the will of the Father.  

This makes me wonder . . . How does a Christian demonstrate his or her faith today?  I find Romans 7:15-20 so prevalent in my own life.  The things I want to do, I just don’t seem to do.  The things I don’t want to do, I find myself doing.  I can’t imagine someone out there beats themselves up more than I do when I recognize it.  I tell some evil people that their sins can be forgiven, but then am disappointed in myself when I stray from the path because I “knew better.”  This is nothing more than the sin of pride.  For me to think such a way, it simply means that I don’t think I’m as evil as the person I’m witnessing to.  All of us, me included, must come to God from a place of complete depravity.  If God Himself doesn’t work in our hearts, minds, and wills . . . it just won’t happen.  It is still the greatest miracle He performs today . . . He changes us.  He really changes us and makes us desire to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.

I find a great many people calling themselves Christians today but displaying little to no obedience to God.  I’ve served on church committees where the men admittedly didn’t regularly read the Bible.  If you don’t know the Word and have a basic grasp of the stories and commandments, how can you obey God?  If many church leaders aren’t reading it, then what does that say about the regular attenders?

Our American “give me something for doing nothing” society is not helping right now.  There are literally kids right now who no longer say they want to be a fireman, doctor, or an astronaut when they grow up because they believe checks will magically come in the mail like they do for mom or dad who does nothing for a living.  I always think of Paul in 2 Thessalonians 3:10. He and his workers took on the attitude that “If I don’t work, then I don’t eat.”  They’d rather starve than have others think that ministering was an easy route to a paycheck.  

It all comes down, I think, to wanting to be a disciple of Jesus.  There is always, and I mean always, a step to take in His direction.  The sons of Zebedee had to leave their nets.  Matthew had to leave his tax collecting booth.  The woman “caught in the act of adultery” had to stop sleeping around.  Adam Hopkins had to quit lying, stop being sexually immoral, cease the partying lifestyle, stop using foul language, stop reading and watching foul-mouthed, sexually charged trash, and do his work for the Lord, not for men.  Why did I have to change?  Because I read that all these things are what God requires in the Bible.  After I read it, I would inevitably find myself doing that particular wrong.  After doing it, I found myself convicted when I got alone with God.  At this point it becomes a simple matter of obedience . . . am I going to do what God wants?  Or am I going to keep doing what my sinful flesh wants?  If I find that I can’t obey, I simply cry to Him for help.  He always gives me what I need.

Think about it, when the rich, young, ruler realized he’d have to part with his money, he walked away from Jesus.  I hope to God that he went on to do like I do more often than I’d like to admit . . . he thought about it, cried out for help, and ended up obeying later.  But, if he did not, then his journey was over.  There is no discipleship without obedience.  In John 6:66, many disciples turned and followed Jesus no more simply because they realized He wasn’t going to perform the “feed the five thousand” trick again for them.  Yet, somehow, despite all the evidence to the contrary, many, if not most Americans believe they can have their sin, and God too.

Lord, make me holy.  You say to be holy like You are holy . . . You wouldn’t say it if it weren’t possible.  Lord, help all of us Americans who take on the name “Christian” not take that Name in vain.  Help us to be true followers of You.  Help us to truly humble ourselves, pray, seek Your face, and turn from our wicked ways.  For then, and only then, will You hear from heaven, forgive our sin, and heal our land.  I love You, Lord.  Search my heart today!