The longer we walk in the Christian the easier it is to lose our focus and to astray. Christ becomes our Lord, but just that, a Lord. A far and distant High King that is we prefer at arm’s length with lots of formalities, ritualistic prayer, and minstrel activity. Never do we once need to depend on Him with anything.
Sin becomes a battle to test our own mettle and projects are launched with Him just as a name. A brand perhaps. Soon burn out happens, and we find ourselves unable to truly overcome sin. Lord now becomes a harsh master, a score keeper like any other belief.
We have forgotten our first Love’s identity. He is more than our Lord. He is our Saviour. Named after His name Yeshua, in Hebrew is a verbal derivative from “to rescue”, “to deliver”.
We suffer from a martyr complex, a hero complex taking it as our own responsibility to save the world. The more we try to save ourselves with our own efforts, working out the Christian walk on our own, the more we find ourselves losing ourselves.
Matthew 16:25
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
It’s more than just letting go of sin and old ways. It’s depending on Him. We could never be good enough to save ourselves, what makes us think we are good enough to overcome sin.
Matthew 13:12
To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.
The little we have slips away into fear and religiosity. It’s time to remember our First Love. His identity. Not just as Lord, but SAVIOUR.
We start so well. On His works. But end up trying to save ourselves. By evaluating ourselves on how much we seem to obey the rules and laws. We rather obey impersonal laws or rules, then find the heart of it, a relationship. With Christ and others. Again and again history repeats itself.
Galatians 5:7-8
7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you
But it’s not surprising since in our current modern day society of instant this and that, relationship is push aside. It is after all time consuming and non-productive in our goals as the world would say.
Matthew 24:12
Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.
Relationship now becomes a ritual. As long as I read the word for this short period of time, help at this charity or event at this time, worship for this amount of time, read the bible for this amount of time, I’ve gotten enough merits to appease Lord for this day or week.
We should stop trying to schedule Him, appease Him with heartless actions.
Maybe it’s because in our busyness we began draw away from Him. Or in our busyness we choose secular forms of relaxation to help forget our worries.
The internet, the media, sports, food and so on. These things are not always wrong in itself but let it not be what we run too in times of trouble.
1 Corinthians 10:23
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
Indulgence causes us guilt, which leads to fear and finally we self-effort trying to make it up with Him.
But we must always remember we did nothing to come in a relationship with Him in the first place.
He first loved us. We believe the Good News of faith, confessed and He forgave. We were save by faith. Remember the first time you accepted this truth.
We should stop telling ourselves since I’ve been a Christian so long I should know better.
We don’t. We never did. It was grace from a Saviour. Be thankful instead of trying to act more noble or self-hating in efforts to appear to gain His favour.
His grace and only His grace allows us to do all things. It is sufficient enough.
2 Corinthians 12:9
9But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.
So let us all really take time to think back all the times we have called out for Him for help.
In troubles, He was our Saviour for that moment. And He still is till now. Our Saviour is waiting to save us, we of little strength and keep us all the way for the Day.
His yoke is light; our job is to keep focusing and depending on Him. He will help, His grace is enough to see us through. Communicate with Him every moment of our life. Cry out when we meet sin. When we need to overcome temptation. When we wrestle the flesh. Praise Him always whether we minister in church or at work. Before we meet others, when we start the day, keep seeking Him first. This dependence which leads to gratefulness. Praise Him always.
This is how childlike faith is to be.
Matthew 18:3
And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Let’s take an example of the Philadelphian church.
I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name” (Revelation 3:8).
And not be proud like those in Laodicea who have become proud and independent.
You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked” (Revelation 3:15-17).
And not be self-sufficient but in all things depend on Him who will see us through.
We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).
And always remember in our fight against sin, temptation, and the busyness of life
1 Samuel 17:47
The battle belongs to the Lord!!!
By Chris Quah
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