Keeping Faith

We want to step up and be counted, instead we step in it more times than we can count.  While we want to be counted among the faithful, we so often find ourselves being counted out again.  We so identify with Paul's lament in Romans 7:19, "For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing."

It would be easy to conclude that we are useless servants of God, fit only to be set aside for ones more worthy.  And while it is true that we are not worthy, it is not true that we are fit only to be set aside.  Our acceptance by God has nothing to do with our fitness but rather our faith.

Listen to the words of the Samuel the great prophet, priest and judge, “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart" (1 Sam 12:20).  Despite your failures, despite your lack of fitness, don't lose your faith in God's goodness.  Do not turn away in defeat, turn instead to God in devotion.  

Paul's words echo this truth: "What a wretched man I  am!  Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?  Thanks be to God, who delivverrs me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Rom 7:24-25).

Don't give up on yourself.  Instead, give yourself over in faith to God, resting on his goodness and his grace rather than your ability to do good.  You will fail and you will fall, but you need not fall away from grace - it is a gift, not a wage for services rendered.  

I'm not suggesting we settle for a sinfilled life, I am saying that we cannot sever ourselves from our sinful selves, we have to live in a fallen condition that must trust in God to save.  And, knowing we ae saved despite not ever having earned it, we can begin to serve God freely and accept his grace freely and walk in the freedom that comes from a life of faith.

We are not worthy, we are chosen - chosen to live a life that rises above the corruption of this world, not by works but "by grace you have been saved through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." (Eph 2:8).  Even when you've dropped the ball, keep the faith.  Jus' Sayn.