Good morning Lord Jesus,I being my new week with the hope of complete sanctification in you and your love.
This morning my reflection blog is a little different. I was at the Waffle House low bar talking with customers and sharing my faith. A regular smirked back sarcastically that “the church would burn down if I entered it” and “it would take me along time to get right before that happens.” Last night at a local brewery where we held our men’s group, Brothers, Bibles and Beer (B3),we talked about my reflection from yesterday. We went around the group and reflected over the question, “If I had enough balls to make a change I believe God is calling me to make, what would that change be and what would it look like?" One of the men said he does not believe, or struggles to believe he is worthy enough for God to want to use him in any remarkable way.
In praying over these conversations this morning, I was reminded of a video. A couple years ago I was sent this short 3 minute video by a friend of mine. I have reflected on it, turned to Scripture, meditated on it, and shared it many times. The link for it is below.
We are not “made right” or “made worthy” by anything we can do in our flesh. We are not saved by our works. We are not saved by our professions of faith. We are not saved by our religion, church affiliation, or church attendance. We are not saved by our attendance in Bible studies like B3 or knowledge of Scriptures. We are not saved by the amount of time we pray. All these things are good and of extreme vital importance to the Christian faith. But any assurance or reliance of salvation on anything you put an “I” in front of is arrogance. Salvation is a solo act of the Gospel of Jesus the Christ who we all enter into only by the grace of God.
My family, I pray you will watch this video and then spend time on your own reflecting on it. I pray that either any feeling of being unworthy or removed from you, or on the other hand any ways in arrogance you are ascribing any part of your salvation, and that of others on anything other than the Gospel (Good News) of Jesus Christ is removed from you, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
I would love for you to please share your reflections on this video with myself or others using the comment box below.
My wife Nancy and I are in a new season of our ministry of pouring completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods, and having “boots on the ground” serving in our community.. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You Thank You!