As I was considering Paul’s expression, “But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises
the dead,”[1]
I once again felt the contrast between the world’s encouragement to rely on ourselves,
and God’s gracious gift of relying on him.
The world says, “Don’t
give up! Keep trying! You can achieve anything you set your mind to! Believe in
yourself!”
God says, “Blessed are
the poor in spirit who see how bankrupt they are to do anything that is
righteous in God’s sight. Blessed are those who mourn the impoverished
condition of their souls. Blessed are the meek who fully acknowledge that they
cannot fix even one thing that is wrong with them. Blessed are those who hunger
and thirst for the righteousness they see in Jesus Christ, their only hope of
ever being right with God.”[2]
God’s promises to the world include, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to
death.”[3]
“Whoever believes in him (Jesus) is not
condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has
not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”[4] “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal
life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God
remains on him.”[5]
God’s promises to the poor in spirit include, “theirs is the kingdom of heaven, they shall
be comforted, they shall inherit the earth, they shall be satisfied.”[6] “But to all who did receive him, who
believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were
born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of
God.”[7] “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word,
and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”[8]
Since, “to set the
mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace,”[9] we
have all the encouragement we need to stop relying on ourselves for anything,
and start relying on God for everything.
Jesus calls us out of our self-reliance with this gracious
invitation: "Come to me, all who
labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and
learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for
your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”[10]
© 2015 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517,
Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 ~ in2freedom@gmail.com
Unless otherwise noted,
Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good
News Publishers.)
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