“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace. (Ephesians 1:7) Communities across the world just celebrated New Years. Every year millions of people participate in this season with resolutions to do better, or be a better person. It is an honorable thing to see our need to change. However, it is easy to miss the source of real change.
Christianity is not about our commitment to change ourselves, or make a re-dedication to try harder. Many believers I have talked with over the years have attempted to do better by always making renewed commitments to Christ. We’ve re-dedicated so many times that our re-dedicater is worn out and our life is still spiritually powerless. How could this happen? Why do we continue to face spiritual defeat and weakness after trying so hard?
The Christian faith is not about trying harder. Instead, it is about surrender. When we re-dedicate, we are attempting to do better by our own strength and effort. This brings us to our problem. The strength of our flesh will never bring us into spiritual rest; the flesh will only frustrate us more because it is unable to perform the task of genuinely walking with Christ. Jesus calls us to surrender and yield to His power and look to Him to enable us by the Holy Spirit to do that which otherwise is impossible. He does it through us!
The Lord gives the Holy Spirit to believers, not as a theoretical doctrine to examine, but as a living reality. When we become Christians, by grace through faith, the Holy Spirit enters our life with the power of heaven’s glory. We are rescued from attempting to please God with our efforts. Instead, we embrace the truth that Jesus fully pleased the Father on our behalf. He came to us when we could not go to Him, and He paid the debt that we owed and freed us from self-righteous religious works.
Growing up in a culture where our everyone told us that good things come to those who work hard makes it is easy to bring this thinking over into our Christian life. When we do, we have a tendency to measure God’s blessings by our effort. And this is where the enemy sets a spiritual trap for us. This mindset leads us to commitments and re-dedications. We may not say it, but we continue to think in terms of doing better and trying harder. Without realizing it, we bring our understanding of the natural world over into our relationship with Christ—that is, work harder, try harder, and commit stronger—yet we fail.
Let us be careful not to miss the beauty of the Gospel. Jesus completed all that needs to be done for our approval with God. In Him, we are set free from attempting to earn His favor. Our life is not about re-dedication. It is about… Surrender!
