Because He Loves Me

I received a book by Elyse Fitzpatrick for my birthday entitled “Because He Loves Me:  How Christ Transforms Our Daily Life”.  I’ve only just begun this wonderful work, but I can tell it’s going to be captivating.  I look forward to sharing the insights, convictions, encouragements and challenges that I receive from the book with you. 

 

I’m reminded of “The Discipline of Grace” by Jerry Bridges as I begin Elyse’s book.  The gospel is the central message and the point is that the gospel is not just for the unsaved.  As believers, we benefit greatly by preaching the gospel to ourselves daily.  Elyse’s book takes this whole concept much further as she delves into the gospel, God’s love for us and how that will truly affect us when lived out.

 

Seems simple, doesn’t it?  But if it is, why aren’t more preachers preaching this life-changing message?  Why are so many churches seeking the perfect program or techniques to help their congregations grow (both numerically and spiritually)?  One of the benefits of moving around so much in the past 6 years is that we’ve had the opportunity to visit lots of churches.  We’ve found some common threads–things that seem to work, things that seem futile.  The more man-centered something is, the more futile it is.  But, the problem is that Christians with good intentions are in the midst of these man-centered programs and don’t see them as “man-centered”.  If it includes God, the Bible and evangelism or discipleship, it must be God-centered, right?  Not necessarily.  We need wisdom and discernment to know if something is truly stemming from man, is man’s wisdom, is glorifying to man, is man’s efforts or works generated by his own strength and power.  Some tips that I’ve found to be helpful to distinguish man-centered vs. God-centered are:

• is there pride associated with the work you’re doing?  the kind of pride where you feel like this came from your abilities and others couldn’t possibly do the work you’ve done.  typically there is a condemnation towards others in this sort of pride.
• is there frustration at the lack of work “others” are doing?  (again, elevating what you are doing instead)
• is there criticism of others?  focus on other people and talking about them with others (either related or unrelated to the project at hand)?
• is there a feeling that you’re not getting enough respect or attention for the work you’ve put into something?

These are just some tips that I’ve found to convict me that whatever I’m doing….and this most definitely includes service in the church…….is more man-centered than God-centered.

 

If something is God-centered, typically this is more of a process thing.  It’s not necessarily a formula, but rather it’s the working out of God’s relationship with someone.  A believer communing with God regularly through the reading of the Word, through prayer; growing more and more like Him as the truth of His word transforms them and sets them apart from the world.  This isn’t some gimmick you can “do”.  This is a devotion.  And as we become more devoted to God, we become more devoted to His people.  We care about those He has created, we care about those He has chosen to be His very own (John 10).  We are faithful to share Him with all and we are faithful to nourish those who walk with Him.  We are faithful to encourage often and we are faithful to call sin sin when necessary.  All of this is love.  All of this is centered about God and His love, not something revved up from within us.  This results in vibrant churches, active members, strong evangelism efforts and serious discipleship.

 

I’ve gone off a bit on a tangent from Elyse’s book, but the first part of the book reminds us that the Christian walk is not just about becoming saved by God’s power and then doing this thing on our own in our own efforts.  We can never be a good-enough Christian that way!  We must come to the fact that no matter how strong we are, no matter how driven we are, we will never become sanctified that way.  At the end of each day, we know deep within that we are incapable of ever reaching spiritual maturity by just doing more or being better.  We fail miserably constantly.  At least I do!  Once we can stop striving, then we can finally turn to God and work out our salvation with fear and trembling, for it is Him Who is working in us and through us!