Which Gospel Are You Preaching to Yourself?

Why is it when I feel like I’m failing spiritually that I’m most inclined to shy away from God, to hold out until I feel better about myself – or better yet, until I somehow “fix myself” enough to feel more pleasing to Him? Why do I run from Him when I need Him most?

It’s a foolish and self-destructive way to live the Christian life.

It’s as ludicrous as a clay jar saying to the Potter, “Could you please step away from the wheel for just a moment until I smooth out this unsightly lump?”

But thankfully, the Potter’s here to stay.

“This is amazing grace –

This is unfailing love!”

His love is unfailing for a reason – because mine isn’t. His love for me doesn’t depend on the steadfastness of my love for Him. His love is from “everlasting to everlasting” (Ps. 103:17) because He is from “everlasting to everlasting” (Ps. 90:2). His love for me depends on who He is, not on who I am.

His love never fails. 

The beginning of the Christian life is by grace alone. Then why do I expect the rest of it to be any different? Why do I depend on Christ for salvation and myself for sanctification?

“It’s Your grace!

From beginning to the end

It’s Your grace!

We will never comprehend

Why You drew the ones who ran from You.

What can we do but offer You praise?”

I need to be preaching the gospel to myself daily. But I’d better be sure it’s the real gospel. The gospel of grace, not of works or self-help.

Looking outside – in the church and in the world – to identify the one preaching a false gospel is easy. It’s a lot harder to identify the one in the mirror.

I am just as dependent on grace today as I was the day God saved me. What a relief! This realization frees me to live the role I am made for – the clay, instead of the Potter.

“You’re the potter, we’re the clay;

You can make us as You choose.”

“Jesus, I sing for all that You’ve done for me!”

Note: This is just one piece of the beautiful (and sometimes bewildering) mosaic that is the Christian life. This is Part 1: God’s Work. There is also Part 2: My Work. I focused on Part 1 here because I’m a Part 2 person by nature, forever setting more goals and summoning more willpower like I explained here. Just thinking about Part 2 sets my mind whirling with commands, responsibility, goals – and stress. So I’m obviously a long way from living a grace-filled balance between the two halves of this paradox. But maybe one day I’ll have the chance to write Part 2. . . .

Don’t miss the next post coming later this week: 400 – and Counting!