by Toni Babcock
Does God judge us because he thinks less of who we are when we fall short of who we ought to be? No, you can leave that kind of condemnation to the devil. God only points out sin in our lives because he expects more of us - and that is a matter of faith. So the next time you fail to please God in some area of life, don't listen to the condemnation of the devil, or wallow in the depths of your despair. Strive by faith to become the kind of person God expects you to be, because of who you are in Jesus.
How to go about it? Well, make certain you have submitted to God in the first place. Jesus calls us to "Repent and believe the gospel," (Mark 1:15 KJV). This is a call to a new life, and a new power. It is more than "turning over a new leaf" and resolving to do better. (We are famously impotent when it comes to keeping our intentions.) It is more than simply acquiescing to please God - or someone else. (How many times have we done that?)
No, to repent and believe the gospel is to experience a fundamental change of mind and heart through the direct influence of God and His Word; it is to believe Christ died and rose again to save us from the penalty and power of sin. Herein we allow God to do the saving, not us, as He channels His grace through Christ, who comes to dwell in the heart by faith. This change of heart and mind is demonstrated by a change of will, and an open heart to receive Him.
God has great expectations for us because of His Son Jesus Christ. Do we?
Toni Babcock is author of The Stone Writer, Christian Fiction for Young Readers and Teens
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
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