Jen Smidt » God Heart Gospel Sanctification Worldviews

Sounds like the title of the most recent release in the self-help section of your local Christian bookstore, doesn’t it? Because you can…be in control of your life and have whatever you want. Because you can…change those annoying habits that you’d rather not call sin. Our flesh is intrigued by this offer of power and control. We like to think there is something we can bring to the table and accomplish on our own.

Apart from the God of endurance and encouragement granting us the power to be like him, we simply cannot.

But there isn’t. And we can’t.

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Romans 15:4-6

In God’s economy, the phrase “Because You Can” reads much different. There are a couple words missing that change this invitation radically.

 

Because God…

Any good or godly action or thought that we have begins with what God has already done. God is the God of endurance and encouragement. It is his character. Our great God of endurance and encouragement had man write words of instruction, filled with reminders to endure and promises to encourage. Because he is these and does these, we can hope to also.

 

You Can…

Our tendency is to jump quickly to the “what can I do” parts of Scripture. Here it would be: endure, be encouraged, and live in harmony. Let’s all try hard for the next week to do these things and check back to see how it’s going.  

Because God is, you can! On your own? Forget it. You can’t.

Take one look at the current condition of marriages in our country and we know that endurance, encouragement, and harmony do not naturally flow from the human heart. In our rebellious, independence from God, we try to muster up endurance and make it several minutes before we are discouraged at our sin. We attempt to encourage and end up disparaging. We shoot for harmony and all hell breaks loose. Apart from the God of endurance and encouragement granting us the power to be like him, we simply cannot.

 

Grace Granted

The hope we hold onto is a solid rock. His name is Jesus. Because he died, you can endure the hardship of life. Because he rose, you can be free from your sin. Because he granted you his righteousness, you can endure, encourage, and live in harmony with your spouse. Together, in accord with Jesus Christ, you can glorify God.

Because God is, you can!

On your own? Forget it. You can’t.

 

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