Christ’s Calling

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Christ’s Calling

Are you  ever going  to be good enough  to get into heaven?     Will all your  good deeds  easily give you  a high standing  in the Creator’s eyes?     Have you said  enough prayers?     Have you spent  enough time  in meditation?     Really?      Have you given enough  to the poor?      Do you honestly love others  or are you simply  “putting up”  with them?

Just how hard  are you trying  to gain the perfection  you need?     It’s a pretty sure bet  you haven’t always tried  hard enough.     Doesn’t it just make a person cringe  to think  of all the times  one could have tried harder  to be good,  but didn’t feel like it?

Have you proudly  held your head high  and noted  that you do better  than most people,  so God “had better”  take notice  of the times  you have done something “good”.     Ohhh boy!     We’re showing our true, ugly colors again.

The apostle John  says something about that  in 1 John 2:16-17   —    “For all  that is  in the world,  the lust  of the flesh  and the lust  of the eyes  and the boastful pride  of life,  is not  from the Father,  but is  from the world.     The world is passing away,  and also  its lusts;  but the one  who does the will  of God  lives forever.”

So,  for every time  we try to hold  our head up,  John reminds us  that we are not acting  in a godly manner.     Being proud  of the “good” we’ve done  is a worldly feeling  that will surely  pass away  into nothingness.     Pride is worthless.

We don’t stand  a chance.     Every time we turn around,  we’re sinning again.     What can we do?

Luke 5:30-32 shows us  what Jesus thinks  about sinners  who are sad  and groan  at the thought  of all the sins  that condemn them  day after day.     Here’s Luke’s account.

The Pharisees  and their scribes  began grumbling  at His disciples,  saying,  ‘Why do you eat  and drink  with the tax collectors  and sinners?’     And Jesus answered  and said  to them,  ‘It is not those  who are well  who need a physician,  but those who are sick.     I have not come  to call the righteous  but sinners  to repentance.’

Jesus says  He came  to this earth  to call sinners.     Jesus wants us  to come to Him.     Jesus wants sinners  to come to Him.     Jesus isn’t calling those  who think they’ve done  a lot of good stuff  and have “earned”  a place  in heaven.      Those kinds  of people  aren’t going  to listen  to Jesus’ message anyway.     They’re too proud  to admit  they’re sinners.

Only those who see  their own sinfulness  are called  by the Lord of Life.     Those who know  they don’t stand a chance  of ever being good enough  for heaven on their own  are being called  to come.

In Matthew 11:28-30,  Jesus says,   “Come to Me,  all who are weary  and heavy-laden,  and I will give you rest.     Take My yoke  upon you  and learn  from Me,  for I am gentle  and humble  in heart,  and you will find rest  for your souls.     For My yoke is easy  and My burden  is light.”

Paul puts it  this way  in Romans5:8  —   But God demonstrates  His own love  toward us,  in that while we were  yet sinners,  Christ died  for us.

So,  God calls the person  who knows  he is a sinner  who can never  earn his way  into heaven.     That means  Jesus is calling the humble  to repentance  and He promises  the rest  of knowing  our sins are forgiven,  because His death paid  for all our sins.     All who believe  and trust  are free  to enter heaven.

But,  what about  all those people  who seem so good?

Romans 3:23 says,  “For ALL have sinned  and fall short  of the glory  of God,  being justified  as a gift  by His grace  through the redemption  which is  in Christ Jesus.”

That means  we’re all sinners,  no matter how good  we pretend  to be.     Only God’s gift  of grace  in Jesus  can give us eternal life  in heaven.

Do you hear  Christ’s calling  to repent?     Do you want  His gift  of grace?    Or do you think  you can still hoof it  on your own?

Forgiven,  we will say,  “Hallelujah!”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional  to glorify  the LORD of lords  and GOD of gods.

Pray for our country.

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The LORD  made this day, let us rejoice  and be glad  in Him.

Psalm 118:24

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The word of the LORD is tried;

He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.

Psalm 18:30

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Sing for joy  in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;

Praise is becoming  to the upright.

Psalm 33:1

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How blessed are those  who dwell  in Thy house!

They are ever praising Thee.

Psalm 84:4

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Just as a father  has compassion  on his children,

So the LORD  has compassion  on those who fear Him.

Psalm 103:13

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O give thanks  to the LORD,  for He is good;

For His lovingkindness  is everlasting.

Psalm 107:1

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Glory in His holy name;

Let the heart  of those who seek the LORD  be glad.

Psalm 105:3

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Not that I have already obtained it,  or have already  become perfect,   but I press on  in order that  I may  lay hold  of that  for which also  I was laid hold of  by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12

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