For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
We are living out a theological issue.
That's good news for us. And bad news. All at the same time.
The good news is that we can't change things. And the bad news is that we can't change things. It takes some of the pressure off of us. And yet it is so frustrating and such a test of faith in the One who can bring about change.
We have a girl in the home who is living under constant tension. It is emotional and spiritual. She believes that her works save her and that her confessions have to equal her wrongdoings. Her emotions control her. She is angry and defensive and agressive and so her bad works outweigh the good most days. That is a lot to worry about when that is your salvation in the balance.
And we have some on our national leadership who are just so frustrated with her because for as many times as she has heard the truth about the grace of God, she just doesn't want to accept it. She says out loud that it is too good to be true, it just can't be that easy. She would rather stay in her world than accept that salvation could be a gift to an undeserving sinner.
Wow.
So yesterday things came to a head and the Lord put it on my heart that we are in the middle of teachable moments... on both sides. I can honestly say that were it not for Jesus, I would not have accepted a free gift of salvation either. Scripture tells us that we are DEAD in our sin, and a dead man cannot accept any kind of gift at all. There is nothing that he can do to change his state. She is dead in sin, she is hearing the truth again and again, but until the Lord makes her heart ready she cannot accept it. It is foolishness to her ears.
I had E with me yesterday who is one of the smartest 2 1/2 year olds I have ever come across. I explained to the ladies that he is a really smart kid... but still lacks the ability to multiply two numbers together. Oh, I could teach him the right answers... he is good at memorizing and could maybe even spout them back out... but he doesn't have the ability yet to really understand multiplication.
That's where we are with this girl. Our job is to faithfully teach Jesus, show Jesus, live out Jesus and a life full of grace in front of her. Be patient with her, love her well, show her Scripture, teach her kindly... but Jesus has to work in her heart. He promises His Word does not come back void. I believe He is working in her. But she is not ready yet to hear and accept the real good news of the Gospel. We cannot change her and she cannot change herself. She can memorize the right answers, but I'd rather that she didn't. I'd rather hear the truth as the battle rages in her heart and she fights it out to try to figure out what it would mean to be really and truly unconditionally loved by Jesus. And in the meantime we pray. We beg the Lord on her behalf to give her ears to hear and a heart to understand.
Please pray with us!
note: We are still desperate for monthly supporters to be able to keep ministering to girls in this way. To have them in our home and teach them daily about Jesus. Please consider joining us in support monthly. Our account number is #92413 and you can go here to sign up... http://www.mtw.org/Pages/Give_FAQ.aspx
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