Life as a Christian is Nothing I Have Control Over

  • Sharaya Cass
  • Mar 11, 2010
  • Series: Infusion Blog

sharaya   by Sharaya Cass

 

More and more I am learning that this life as a Christian is nothing I have control over. Whether I serve God or not isn’t dependent on my ability to muster up the strength to do what’s right, rather it is wholly dependent on God’s grace.

Whenever I am doing well and I feel like the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-24) are abounding in my heart I know that it is not because of my own faithfulness or righteousness, but because the Holy Spirit is alive in me and giving me the grace to live holy.

This is completely different from the “do-it-yourself salvation” mentality that I’ve seen myself, and many friends, fall prey to. We think that if we just have enough self-control we can overcome sin. We think that if we study the Bible enough we will then we will have strength. While all of these things are good, this mentality is the opposite of everything Christ teaches us in the Bible. 

“There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” – Romans 3:11-12

Yet, in Christ, we are offered this amazing gift of the Holy Spirit coming to reside inside of us and ministering the grace of God to us.

“It is because of him [God] that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.’” – 1 Corinthians 1:30-31

When we grasp the idea that it is not ourselves that produces righteousness, but God, we can live free from self-boasting and self-righteousness. We can turn from sin and realize that it was only by God’s grace that we are no longer slaves. It’s not about religious deeds or legalism. It’s about Christ coming and living in us, and HIM working through us. No longer can we look at our righteousness and think “Wow, I am doing so well.” But, rather, humbly we turn to God and pray “Lord, give me grace for this new day.”