If Only It Were So Simple!
Saturday, November 25, 2023
Thinking We Can Make Things Beautiful On Our Own,
Ruins All Our Efforts
Exodus 24:7
Then he took the book of the covenant, and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, ‘All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.’
James 1:22
But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.
…
Words of Grace For Today
Yes, we will do it!
We will be obedient!
(until we are not, of course, which is always bound to happen, since it is built into us humans to explore, push the limits, and rebel against authority.)
Oh, if James were anything other than a straw gospel, one that is blown away by even the slightest wind of adversity.
Then we could not just be hearers but doers as well of the Gospel.
But
life is much more complicated than that,
and so much more interesting.
We not only need to listen and hear and attempt to do, we need to start by confessing that we cannot on our own follow Jesus’ way of self-sacrificial love.
We need to beg for help from the Holy Spirit.
So, also this day,
we wish to be followers of Jesus, doers of God’s Grace, obedient servants of God Will,
but since we know we cannot ever,
we confess our sins,
trust we are forgiven,
and move into the day
knowing we are fully dependent on God to do anything good or worthwhile.
Just beggars, we are,
just beggars,
by Grace alone, saintly beggars.