Ellen's chart really shows what a bummer it is to be driven rather than led. This got me thinking...why does the Church in general seem too tired for a robust Spirit-led pursuit into the depths of God's Word?  Why gather to this vague hope to be driven (somewhere)? Do we know the Spirit Who leads us?

"...if ye be led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law" Gal. 5:18
Why do so many long-time Christians feel that they lack purpose? Why do they desire to be driven by whatever they can find in the hottest new teaching?  Do we feel our life lacks countable results? I read nowhere in scripture that we are accepted by God based on our numeric production.

I was radically saved at age 24, and I'm in my 40s now. I tried many years to please God with all my youthful energy. I tried the programs-- it all works for a while and then it fades, and nothing changes. I think God plans it this way. I believe our Heavenly Father wants us to see that it's all of grace and with empty hands to fall before our Lord Jesus Christ, our (only) Righteousness.

Don't the self-improvement teachings du jour always leave us empty in the long run?
Aren't we told to take no thought for our life, not to worry about us? The Good News declares us crucified. That's good news because according to God's view of us-- our old person, out of whom came only sin, is dead, and now Christ is our Life (Col 3:3).  Did you know that God's view is that you are crucified with Christ and alive from the dead (in Christ)? That's the gospel! That's what God says about us! Do you believe the gospel? Abraham believed God against all odds. Do we believe God's Word that we are "dead with Christ", "raised with Him" (Col. 3) "accepted in Him" (Eph 1:5) and live "according to HIS OWN purpose and grace, given us in Christ Jesus..." 2 Tim 1:9

Many feel they are barren and not doing enough for God to help and save others, so they are grab a book with a roadmap of points to follow in order to get results that are countable in their lives. Don't stagger at the promise in the gospel of grace. Promised Life comes through grace. Christ is our Life. He is formed in us as we believe the truth.

Another thing, it hurts to see the Pauline gospel ignored in the paraphrased versions of the bible that dissolve these scriptural truths into obscurity. But we must continue to labor to teach our brothers and sisters of our death with Christ and of our heavenly calling and position in Christ (Romans 6; Ephesians 1-3; Colossians 2, 3). True fruit will always be only out of Christ our Life--any other source of "fruit" is only dead works.

Love,
Jay