It’s a Real Question and a Big One.
Thanks for stopping in on this “heavy” question. I will try to not keep it heavy. Let’s be real with the question. What are we living for? I take comfort asking this question as I try to ground myself on what life is “really about.”
We can answer like we want to impress with:
Matthew 22:37-39: Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
But, let’s answer……each of us……honestly. What are we REALLY living for? Don’t yell it out loud. Just think about your actions, your time, where your money goes, and evaluate what you seem to be living for.
Stack up your thoughts with these verses as you go:
1 Corinthians 10:31: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
Colossians 3:17: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
So here we are contrasting our real with what God says in His Word and we do the “downer” face. We don’t measure up more than likely. I raise up these thoughts because I see how followers of Jesus continue to feel like failures often. Paul has been there and done that you know. Check this out.
Romans 7:15, where the apostle Paul expresses a common struggle experienced by many believers:
For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.
In this passage, Paul is reflecting on the tension between his desire to do what is right and his tendency to sin. Despite his best intentions and knowledge of God’s commandments, he finds himself falling short and doing the very things he knows he shouldn’t do. This inner conflict illustrates the ongoing struggle between the flesh and the spirit that Christians often experience.
Paul goes on to explain this internal battle further in Romans 7, ultimately highlighting the need for dependence on the Holy Spirit to overcome sin and live a life pleasing to God. He concludes the chapter by acknowledging the deliverance found in Jesus Christ, who rescues believers from the power of sin and enables them to live victoriously through the Spirit (Romans 7:24-25).
Failure is Not the End!
Believers, take heart! Even the apostle Paul himself acknowledged the inner conflict between wanting to do what is right and falling short. Remember that God’s grace is sufficient for you in your weaknesses. Though you may stumble, God’s love and forgiveness remain constant. Lean on Him, seek His strength, and trust in His power to transform you. Through Jesus Christ, there is forgiveness, redemption, and the promise of victory over sin. Keep pressing forward in faith, knowing that God is faithful to complete the work He has begun in you.
This message emphasizes that failure is not the end, but rather an opportunity to rely more fully on God’s grace and power to overcome.
I’m so thankful for mercy and grace and I’m aware the enemy is the accuser and regularly reminds us of our failures. God isn’t doing that, but rather the enemy. Dig in friends and battle through with me in this journey of ups and downs. Cling to the fact that God will not leave us or forsake us. He is there helping us overcome the next moment.
You may feel defeated. Stand up from your falls and failings. Don’t quit and don’t go it alone. Surround yourself with others who faithfully seek God’s best while failing their way through. It’s the “striving for” that is important. Claim “Victory in Jesus” and all that means eternally!
So, what are you living for? Live for The Way, The Truth, and The Life! Live for Jesus and don’t allow the enemy to whisper play by play failures. Count your blessings and trust and obey. Notice how I intentionally lean into the words of old hymns and cliche sayings and so often quoted verses! Back to the Basics is a great thing to do. Back to the Basics. Remember that. Thank you Lord!
