A dog returns to its vomit…
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:” (Galatians 1:6).
There is a driving force and human desire in most of us to attempt to somehow measure up to the high standards of a righteous God. If we live a certain way, think a certain way, speak a certain way, look a certain way, do well to others (most of the time), and avoid the most “severe” sins in life, we will probably find favor with God, right? WRONG!
People live as if they can somehow please or satisfy a perfect, holy, infallible, all-powerful, all-knowing, and eternal God when deep down inside they know they cannot. It’s human nature to strive, work, labor,and try to satisfy God with good behavior. But since God requires absolute and total PERFECTION…we’ve got a real problem. “Be ye therefore perfect, EVEN AS your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in ONE point, he is guilty of ALL ” (James 2:10). I’m guilty!
Since it’s not possible to measure up to the high and holy standards of God, we must come to Him in childlike faith fully through Jesus Christ for forgiveness, reconciliation, justification, atonement, redemption, and eternal life. He ALONE satisfied the holy and just demands of a righteous God toward sin when He died on a cross, was buried, rose again on the third day, and ascended to the Heavens where He is seated at the right hand of the Father in final authority and all power. We must acknowledge that Jesus Christ is “…the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by [Him]” (John 14:6). We must simply receive Him in faith.
What is different now, believer? Are you trying instead of trusting? Are you laboring instead of resting? We walk in Christ the same way we received Him…by faith, trust, dependence, and helplessness. “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving
” (Colossians 2:6-7).
Have you left the true Gospel of forgiveness, reconciliation, justification, atonement, redemption, and eternal life through CHRIST and returned to the defeat, labor, striving, bondage, and condemnation of a legalistic system of lofty standards? “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel.”
Come back to CHRIST ALONE ! And discover real freedom, liberty, and victory in Him!
April 24th, 2009 at 8:08 am
Forrest, thank you again for such a simple but most important reminder. Each of us forgets the powerful Friend we have in Jesus. His death and resurrection has freed us from such overwhelming odds. “By Faith are you saved” his word proclaims.
In my life, it has become the waiting that ways on my soul. Please pray for me as I wait on word for a job. I want to be used of God and yet at times I feel like I am back in grade school. I have to learn to live each day in faith. I know that the tempter is doing his best to discourage me. Do you ever have a message that you want to shout from the roof tops, and yet you’re left in silence? That is how I feel at times.
I will let God use me as I am. I seek not the praise of man. The messenger may be silenced but not the message. Pray that I can live this message. You are the only one who I believe truly understands. God understands and I need to wait on him.
We Love you, in Christ,
Don DeSimone
Col 3:14
April 24th, 2009 at 8:45 am
Brother Don, I have, and will, continue praying with you. You matter! Don’t ever allow the adversary or your circumstances to convince you otherwise.
I know what you mean when you say “back in grade school.” Personally, I have periods of growth and then God turns that page of my life and here we go again. I’ve come to accept the fact that this “cycle of growth” and pruning will continue until the day I die.
My counsel? Be still and be small if you want to hear God’s still, small voice. And you’re right, brother. Wait. It’s those deep valleys where we learn to trust, love, and follow Jesus Christ. Were it not for the suffering, I would have missed knowing Him. Keep waiting, looking, and craving Christ!
This is what I did in those early days of my trial. Each time you are faced with worry, turn your attention specifically to “Christ” by quoting scripture that exalts Him. I did this repeatedly and still do. Sometimes I would wrestle back and forth, especially at night, between the word of truth and my dire circumstances. I kept going to “Christ” in the word. (Like: John 15:1-5, Colossians 2: 6-10, or Matthew 11:28-30.)
Do it every time your mind drifts. Focus on Christ. Look for a job, yes, but don’t worry about it. Think on Christ. Delight in Him. Enjoy Him. The more you do this then the less you’ll be consumed with yourself and your problems. In my life, I slowly developed a deep, personal, abiding, intimate friendship with JESUS CHRIST. That changes everything. Keep pursuing and loving the person of the Lord Jesus Christ!
April 25th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Thank you, Brother, for your encouraging words. “As iron sharpens iron.”
This came at a time that I needed a word from a Dear Brother in Christ. I believe it sometimes takes adversity to really understand or seek to have the Mind of Christ. I will focus on Him only as you have counseled. I will keep in touch and as always you and your family are in my prayers.
In Him,
Don DeSimone
Col 3:14