Heaven Knocking on Our Door- DAY 14- January 23, 2020

Day Fourteen

The Stumbling Rock

Scripture:

“But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded.  Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path.”  Romans 9:31-32 (NLT)

Thought:

In this passage the Apostle Paul contrasts the way the people of Israel worshiped, identified and related to God versus the Way of Christ.  Israel’s concept was based on legalism, which in essence is temporary forgiveness and religious performance to stay in God’s favor. Christianity is based on grace, God’s complete forgiveness through faith.  This is the antithesis of legalism.  But, are all Christians seeing it that way?  The people of Israel stumbled because of the very thing they sought not to do.  They wanted to be perfect.  They tried to be perfect.  Some people like the Pharisees wanted to present a perfect front.  But they can’t be perfect and the very thing that they thought would be their ticket to God’s favor, became the very thing that kept them away.  Can this be true for a Christian as well?  The answer is yes, and my life at one point was an example.

Application:

I have found something to be true because of my own experience.  I have found that there are several kinds of believers in Christ.  First is one that believes but practices disobedience.  Some say the “practice” of disobedience gives doubt to this person’s authentic faith.  Maybe so?

The second believer is one who attends church or not and looks the part but has only a casual commitment and very little enthusiasm for Christ.  A love connection is rarely seen toward Christ, and others as well.  Both of these examples have a perverted view of grace and faith and as a result they stay stagnant in their walk with Christ.  Another example is one who is balanced in grace and faith.  They serve out of love and they are a contagious magnet to draw people to Christ.  They bear fruit and never know it, for they abide in Christ, and He is able to work through their life.

The last example is the busy beaver for Christ.  They live and act like they are working their way to heaven.  They will quote, “You’ve got to work out your own salvation,” but at the same time neglect the rest of Philippians 2:12-18 that says, “for it is God who works in you.”  What is missing in this last person’s perspective is that Christianity is not a religion to be lived legalistically and performance driven, even though good-intentioned.  Rather it is a relationship that enables God’s work through us.  God forbid that I create my own stumbling stone on my path by forgetting the enabling relationship Jesus gives me.  I must not try to do His work and try to serve Him by my own strategy and my own attempt at perfection or else I will fail Him and myself as well.

Response:

Father I hate to admit it for I try very hard to serve You and to live in a right way.  Even so I can easily fall into a form of performance legalism as I look at my failures and my stumbles as proof that my best efforts fall short.  That’s what imperfect people do and why we need Your grace.  I am reminded often that I would be desperate without Your grace to me because I can’t make it without it.  But that’s a good thing, for it takes away any illusions that were deceiving me and puts me back where I need to be, which is living in our abiding relationship.  Lord, it is there, and there alone, that real fruit to Your honor and glory is produced.  May it be Savior that I never forget this.  In Jesus name I pray.

 Your Child