We've met the enemy and he is us

Research seems to indicate that wrong or unhealthy choices are made because we focus too much on ourselves and blame others. It makes sense. It is as old as Adam and Eve and as recent as you and me. One of the struggles our country is currently having deals with choices. On the one hand we want government to bail us out; on the other hand we think government is too big. On the one hand we want better schools; on the other hand we want lower taxes. I'm no politician, but it would seem to me that we can't have it both ways.

Our faith journeys are not much different. On the one hand we want God's grace and forgiveness, but without confession and repentance. On the one hand we want spiritual strength, but without the disciplines necessary for this to happen. The bottom line is that at some point we need to make a choice to turn things around and make some of the sacrifices necessary to bring it about.

You know, if Jesus was physically alive today and chose to be a pastor, he would have a pretty small congregation. It would be small because he insisted on making choices that would involve some sacrifice. "Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:27)." Right now I'm thinking about what sacrifices I am making, if any, and what sacrifices I need to make to be a better disciple. That's what Lent is for me--choosing all over again to follow Jesus.

I've been thinking a lot about choices--those we feel free to make and those that carry with them some parameters.  Certainly God made us in his image in that we have the freedom to embrace God or reject God--accept God's gift of grace or reject it.  The greatest threat to acceptance of God is arrogance or what the Greeks called hubris--essentially becoming our own god.  That is a  more frequent choice than we might imagine.  The apostle Paul writes, "I can will what is right, but I cannot do it.  For I do not do the good I want, but evil I do not want is what I do (Romans 7:18b-19)."  Paul spoke of it is a an ongoing conflict to do what God willed and what he willed. 

It is much easier for me to do what I will i.e., what is certain and well within my grasp than to do God's will which may not always be as clear.  I know that God's will in any given situation is to do what is most loving (selfless love) in any given situation.  I can will it, but I seem at times unable to choose always to do it.  To get beyond that I need a boost and that is what God's grace does for me.  God's grace does not take me out of the struggle since that grace is not cheap.  God's grace does give me that strength of presence to on some occasions emerge victorious and redeemed. 

To wrestle with a choice between God's will and my own in any given issue is to choose what Jesus calls the narrow gate and the hard road which is really the only way to life--spiritual vitality. (Matthew 7:14)  So, grace is not cheap, but it beats the legalisms of the world.  I would be interested in your understanding of grace.