Thank you for your recent blog post – “Twice as Much a Child of Hell” – a life affirming message that we are free by God’s grace. It breaks my heart how hard people work to “do God’s work to help save others” that religion has taught them to do, that you must go to church or you are slipping in your commitment to God.
My nephew talked with his dying dad about his life and preparing to meet God. I would never say God did not use the love of my nephew to bring the love of God to his dying father. But when the church reinforces that WE did God’s work, it is very easy to build in your mind a puffed up version of what “YOU did” and now my nephew is off trying to “save his sister”. Again, I’m not saying God doesn’t work through our human presence with those we love. But at times we can get puffed up in “our accomplishments.” His sister has been on drugs for so long. She and her partner live on the streets where, at times, she gets beat up and her mind no longer functions in a healthy and normal manner. When I hear my nephew talk, he seems to feel like he will be able to “straighten her out.’
Where I’m trying to get to here is human nature is at times very predictable, and people are so strong in their ways that sometimes they can’t change. My nephew doesn’t seem to want to understand that she has made her decisions and now that her mind doesn’t function correctly and she will probably end her days on the street. I would never say God cannot rescue my niece, but that God is the only one who can ultimately help her. The most valuable lesson we have is to keep God as our light before our eyes and minds, listen to his voice, and let go of the thought that we can save people ourselves. We can of course be tools in his hands, but “saving” is his job, not ours.
Thank you and your whole team.
– Texas
We hope that our articles and resources bring comfort, hope, encouragement, and healing to our readers. If you’re experiencing that, please subscribe freely, share freely, and, if you’re able, please consider donating freely toward paying it forward by clicking the blue giving at the top of your screen.
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From Our Mailbox…
My nephew talked with his dying dad about his life and preparing to meet God. I would never say God did not use the love of my nephew to bring the love of God to his dying father. But when the church reinforces that WE did God’s work, it is very easy to build in your mind a puffed up version of what “YOU did” and now my nephew is off trying to “save his sister”. Again, I’m not saying God doesn’t work through our human presence with those we love. But at times we can get puffed up in “our accomplishments.” His sister has been on drugs for so long. She and her partner live on the streets where, at times, she gets beat up and her mind no longer functions in a healthy and normal manner. When I hear my nephew talk, he seems to feel like he will be able to “straighten her out.’
Where I’m trying to get to here is human nature is at times very predictable, and people are so strong in their ways that sometimes they can’t change. My nephew doesn’t seem to want to understand that she has made her decisions and now that her mind doesn’t function correctly and she will probably end her days on the street. I would never say God cannot rescue my niece, but that God is the only one who can ultimately help her. The most valuable lesson we have is to keep God as our light before our eyes and minds, listen to his voice, and let go of the thought that we can save people ourselves. We can of course be tools in his hands, but “saving” is his job, not ours.
Thank you and your whole team.
– Texas
We hope that our articles and resources bring comfort, hope, encouragement, and healing to our readers. If you’re experiencing that, please subscribe freely, share freely, and, if you’re able, please consider donating freely toward paying it forward by clicking the blue giving at the top of your screen.
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