002 Stay in Your Lane

I'm reminded of John 15 where Jesus taught that God our Father is the vinedresser. His job is to cultivate (grow and improve) my life. I'm so tempted to try and fix myself, to make myself more disciplined and "better" at doing this or that. Then I remember!!! 

My flesh and my heart fails: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.Ps 73:26 

Every branch in me that doesn't bear fruit, he lifts [to the sun (son)] that it may bring forth more fruit.John 15:2 

There is nothing more freeing to me than to believe these verses and to "Let it go!" What am I letting go? That demonic (yet, oh so common) idea that I need to help, change, improve, and discipline myself by my own efforts. It's Satan's trick to get me to push away my Savior's work and payment at Calvary and replace it with the works of my flesh. Grace versus Works! It's really a gross idea yet it seems so "right" in the mind of carnal man. I'm sure you all can relate to this temptation. We are pushed to change lanes from grace over to works.  Instead of staying in the grace lane and allowing God to prune us the way he knows is best, we slide over into the “I can do it myself” lane and work on changing ourselves.  I pray we all cling more to Christ and his finished work at the cross. The more I accept his shed blood on my behalf, the more I love him. 

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and  honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen,  you love; in whom, though now you see him not, yet believing, you rejoice with  joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.1 Peter 1:7-9