Nazarite Call

God has been bringing up Ephesians over and over to me – specifically the first couple chapters.  I’ve learned, that when something comes up repeatedly, usually God’s trying to communicate a truth I need to hear. So, what is that truth? Simply this: STOP!!! Stop all your striving! Stop all your doing! Stop trying so hard!

I will admit it: I’m a terrible over-thinker, over-analyzer, over-doer. I want everything to be orderly, make sense, and be accomplished perfectly. However, as I am sure is obvious, life just isn’t this way. So, what do I do when things don’t turn out as planned? Often, I end up beating myself over the head or feeling disillusioned about how my Christian life is supposed to look (check out Paul in Romans 7 – he knows what I mean). Why can’t I get it right? Why are some sins so difficult to get rid of? Why are some idols so hard to tear down?

Once again, the answer is simple: PRIDE. I want to do it all by myself!  It is as we begin to think that we have within ourselves what it takes to put away the old self that we enter into a very dangerous place.In Mere Christianity C.S. Lewis refocuses me as he states: “the real test of being in the presence of God is, that you either forget about yourself altogether or see yourself as a small, dirty object. It is better to forget about yourself altogether.” A “successful” Christian life really has nothing to do with me and has everything to do with the Holy Spirit sanctifying me through the power of the cross.

The truth that exposes the lies of pride is found in Ephesians 2:4-10:

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Also, in Romans 6:5-7 I am reminded that I am in fact free: “If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.”

God waits for me to cease to “do” so that he can finally do his work. Ever patient, God is wanting me to stop struggling so he can do it all. It’s not about me flogging the old self until it is done away with. Christ’s work on the cross has already dealt with that old self.

And so I stop and learn to rest in the grace and peace of God.

Natalie

*Note: I give credit to Jeremiah for an excellent devotional that was a catalyst for this contemplation.