Today I wanted to share something I wrote during a very tough time in my life about 5 years ago. No matter how strong and prepared we think we are, we are all vulnerable. For 30 years, I've walked with God, or should I say He's walked with me. It seems the more I get to know Him, the more I understand my need for Him.
Human nature says that maturity is equal to less dependence on others and more reliance on self. I think God defines maturity quite differently. It seems the longer You go with God the more dependent you (should) become on Him. As a result of more God dependence, you become more mature in your faith, and the less you depend on your self.
Didn't Jesus say that we couldn't enter heaven without the trust of a child? How crazy is that? Now I am not advocating throwing a temper tantrum in light of this revelation. Instead, I am suggesting a reflection on how much you are currently depending on Him and how much of your life depends on self reliance.
Jeremiah 2: 13 says that God's people had turned their backs on Him, stopped seeking Him for answers, and dug their own wells. I believe at the center of every sin we commit is pride and self reliance.
13 “My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water. - NIV
13 “My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water. - NIV
We don't say it out loud, but our attitude and actions shout "I got this one God. It's cool. You can relax and go help some drug addict, pimp, prostitute, gambler, adulterer, etc. You know, some bad person. I'm good God. I'll call you if I need you."
Personally, I don't think a man can truly be saved until he realizes the depravity of his own soul apart from God. Paul said it in Esphesians 2:8-9 this way:
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Salvation is truly a miraculous work of God in the human spirit. It's from this revelation that God helped me articulate the following. Enjoy -
Personally, I don't think a man can truly be saved until he realizes the depravity of his own soul apart from God. Paul said it in Esphesians 2:8-9 this way:
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Salvation is truly a miraculous work of God in the human spirit. It's from this revelation that God helped me articulate the following. Enjoy -
In all my wanderings, in all my sins, in all my piousness, in all my pride, in all my weakness and humility, in all my joys, in all my sorrows, disappointments, fears, doubt and unbelief……….YOU WERE THERE.
IN PURSUIT OF GOD
I expected a parade and a speech, loud music and excitement; but somewhere in all my disillusionment you quietly slipped in the backdoor of my life. Unnoticed, you sat on the last pew.
You waited and waited and waited some more. Until I had spent my last effort, last dollar, last fear, last word, last breath. Without much ado, you knelt beside my lifeless body; enveloping me in a grasp that brought security and hope, and restored my faith and strength.
Ironically in all my efforts to find you, you found me. And so where I thought the journey ended, I found that I had just begun….MY PURSUIT OF GOD.
Until All of Italy Hears,
Stephen and Brandy Verner
TEAM Missionaries to Italy
706-201-5570
