Get out from under the cloud

It is amazing to me how many “Christians” live each day missing out on the grace, love and acceptance that Jesus bought for us when he died on the cross.  So many “Christians” continue to live under a cloud of “condemnation”.  I hear people make comments about how upset they think God  probably is with them because of some mistakes they’ve made or shortcomings they posess.

“God probably doesn’t like that I’m frustrated at my boss right now”

“If I was a better husband God would probably love me more”

“If I could control my anger God would be more pleased with me”

Can you hear the condemning tone? 

Many of these comments may never be spoken out loud, but they float around in our heads, and pretty soon they work there way down into our heart. 

Listen to the apostle Paul and what he says:

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”–Romans 8:1

Did you catch that?   ”No condemnation”.

Why is it that so many ”Christians” have lost sight of this? 

What was it that prompted us to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior in the first place?  Wasn’t it at least in part the idea that through Jesus we could be ”saved” from”condemnation”? 

Many “Christians” are missing it.  Here is my take: 

At the moment when we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, God was genuinely working in our heart drawing us to himself.  We were intimately attuned to the great need we had for a Savior.  We were at the end of ourselves and Jesus’  offer of Grace, forgiveness, and the abundant life were undeniably compelling and personal.  We accepted his invitation and sensed that our need for wholeness, hope, and salvation were now realized.  Great news right?  Of course it was, and it still is!  We are saved!  We are God’s beloved!  Our future is secure!  All good things, but what often get’s missed is this: 

Jesus invited us into a relationship not a decision

Many people become ”Christians” and think it was only about securing a place in heaven after they die?   They miss the invitation to enter into a “relationship” with Jesus today and tomorrow.  How tragic!

The grace, love and acceptance that we received when we became “Christians” is the same grace, love, and acceptance that enables us to live a life of freedom in Jesus each day.  

It grieves me to see so many “Christians still living under a cloud of condemnation, and I know it grieves God to see those who call themselves followers of his openly rejecting his grace and love every day.

Living life out from underneath the cloud of condemnation requires that we receive daily, exactly what we were compelled to receive when we became a “Christian”.   To do this we must do two things on a daily basis, surrender and accept. 

We must surrender:

• Our desire to earn God’s favor 
• Our right to ourself                       
• Our guilt and shame                     
• To Jesus                                            

We must accept:

• God’s forgiveness                         
• God’s Grace                                      
• God’s loving acceptance of us   

 

Dave for Wellspring C 2009

Who Are Those Guys?

 

Acts 20:2-4  He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, where he stayed three months. Because the Jews made a plot against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia. He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.

 

 

When Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were trying to evade the trackers after one of their big train heists they were mystified at who would be so diligent, so determined and so gifted in pursuing them.  They kept repeating the same question to each other -”who are those guys?”.

 

Indeed that was the same question I had after reading the passage of Paul’s traveling companions through Macedonia.  Who are those guys?  Paul clearly was on the run like those notorious outlaws Butch and Sundance, but Paul’s reason for being on the run so to speak was because he was bringing down strongholds, proclaiming light in a dark world, facing the spiritual forces at work in the world.  He had enemies.

 

But who were these guys that accompanied him?  They must have been honest men, noble men, men of prayer, men of faith and conviction.  The must have had spiritual strength, perhaps even physical strength?  They were the guardians and protectors of Paul, a man of great importance to the kingdom of God.

 

In so many ways God provided protection for Paul as he journeyed for the kingdom, but He didn’t spare him from all suffering.  Paul knew suffering and weakness and the weight of sorrow, even despair.  Yet God was with him, through the comfort of the Holy Spirit, through visions, throught the help and prayers of others…and through these seven men of God on the way through Macedonia.

 

Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia walked with Paul to encourage, care for and protect.

 

Who are your brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers in the Lord to walk with you, to have your back, to pray for you, to help you see the work of God in your life?  You need them.  If you don’t have them, you need to find them.  God made us to walk in community on this journey.  We are not lone outlaws like Butch and Sundance.  We are not made to do this life by ourselves.  We are on a walk with God and with others.

 

Blessings in your walk with Sopater or Aristarchus or…

Scott for Wellspring © Copyright 2009