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I remember when I was in 8th grade at a Christian camp and the leader gave each of us a cup. She said to slant our cup to where we were in our faith. Several years later when I was 16, I became a Christian, believing and choosing to follow Jesus. So, several years before as an 8th grader, I had no idea what the leader was talking about .
I remember feeling a little guilty and confused, like I should know where I am and what she means.
As the years have gone by, I have seen how sometimes we can feel pressured to know exactly how we’re doing in our walk, our faith. To be able to summarize where we are at different days or times in our lives.
Some self-reflection is good. But, sometimes it’s just too much. Jesus asked his disciples, Who do you say that I am? He wanted to know, Do you believe? Will you follow me? Will you give up everything for me? Will you love your enemy? Will you clean the inside of your cup, your heart, first? Will you put me before all else?
But, I haven’t seen him ask, “What level is your walk with me on now?”
Believing in Jesus is black and white. We choose to believe or we don’t. He gives us each a choice because He loves us, but at the end of the day, we are responsible for our choice.
Jesus offered a way to be with Him now and forever when we choose him, believing He died on the cross for our sins and overcame them by rising on that third day.
But our faith journey is the part that is a progression. As humans we are so bent on emotion and sometimes our ups and downs make us “feel” like we are not as close with God one day, and closer with God another day.
That we’re really trusting in the Lord one day, but not another.
That we have it all together one week, but not the next.
That one season we have everything in order, but another one we’re falling apart, wondering how the Lord is viewing us now.
Friends, the beautiful thing is that God. Does. Not. Change. EVER. His love for us doesn’t change, who He is doesn’t change.
So, when we’re scrambling to figure out how the Lord perceives us, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
Let’s not base our relationship with Jesus on how we are on a particular day, but on the Almighty, the Sovereign God, the Everlasting, who is, and who was, and who is to come. Rev. 1:8
Lay it down.
Let go of the never-ending treadmill of trying to be accepted by the Lord. All you have to do is choose Jesus and then seek Him with all your heart to be with Him.
He’ll make the way. All the rest will come naturally as you pour your heart into seeking him, one moment at a time.
Don’t compare yourself to others. God made you to be you for a reason. He wants you as you are, to come to Him, and then He will make your heart more like His.
So, today, instead of asking, What level are you on in your faith?, I’ll ask instead, Do you know Jesus? Do you know He loves you? Do you know he stands at the door, waiting for You? To knock, to reach out, to tell Jesus you need Him. To believe that He gave his all, His very life, for you, so you could be forgiven because of His great love for YOU.
But he didn’t stop at laying down His life–with His great power and great love, He rose high, so you could have a life that doesn’t stop here, but goes on into eternity with the Lord if you choose to believe and follow Him. What a gift.
Thank you, Lord, for offering us a way to be with you now and forever through Jesus. I pray the Holy Spirit would speak to each person who reads this and that you would meet them right where they are and connect with them. Thank you for your great love for each of us, and making a way to be with you through giving your life on the cross for us and rising on that third day. We are forever grateful. We love you, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Jesus (Matthew 7)
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:13
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My dad is showing some signs of waking up. His numbers are really good, so we’re continuing to pray that when he wakes up, the peace of God would guard his mind and heart in Christ Jesus, that he would remain calm, that he could breathe on his own so he could get the ventilator out, that he can keep breathing on his own and make a full recovery. In Jesus’ name, amen. This song has been one I’ve been singing and praying to the Lord for my dad…
Linsey Driskill 