How Are You Really Doing Spiritually?
Joshua reflects on a recent sermon in Galatians, that reminded us that our salvation and standing before God is not based on our actions, but on Christ's alone.
How are you really doing spiritually?
This weekend was a particularly busy one. On Saturday morning, I was helping to take care of my two children. On Saturday evening, we had youth group. Sunday morning included service leading and on Sunday afternoon, I was preaching at Acts Baptist Church. Although not all my weekends are so hectic, more often than not the weekend is filled with many activities, and often church/God related activities.
On Sunday evening after my quiet time, I thought back on one of the reflection questions from the sermon earlier in the morning: “How are you doing spiritually?”
Hmm… That got me thinking… I felt like my relationship with God was going well, although not perfect I must always admit. I read my Bible regularly, pray most days and look at all I have done this weekend! That must count for something? I had served God with a lot of effort in all these different areas of ministry; for my family, for the church and even communicated with God!
The weekend left me physically pretty tired, but as someone whose relationship with God was going well, I should still feel spiritually and emotionally full despite being tired. As I reflected more on what was going on in my heart and did a quick check on where I am at, I realised that I was feeling dry. Amidst the busyness, I seemed to have been more focused on doing and less focused on where my heart was at. Even though I was pursuing these seemingly godly activities, why was I not feeling close to God? Where did the joy go in the midst of all my efforts?
The sermon on Sunday was an important reminder that it is so easy to tie our relationship with Jesus with what we do. “I’m doing a lot of ministry, therefore my relationship with God is good.” or “I’m not a very good Christian, because I haven’t been doing ______”
When we do this, we actually fall into a similar legalistic works-based salvation that Paul has been writing to the Galatians and warning them firmly about.
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? (Gal 3:1-3)
When we base our relationship with God on what we do, our joy in serving God suffers. Serving God is burdensome because we are doing things in hopes to make our relationship better.
Instead of resting in the salvation that Jesus provides for us, we can get exhausted and bogged down with trying to be “good enough” for God. The truth is we will never be good enough when we try to follow the law. The truth is doing things does not make our relationship with God better.
Our relationship with God is based solely on what Christ has done for us on the cross. The gospel gives us joy, peace and satisfaction in God because we know that our salvation and adoption as His children is not dependent on what we have done. We rest secure knowing our identity and relationship with Him is certain because of Christ.
With this certainty, we serve God not out of obligation or fear that we are in poor standing with Him, but out of love for Him. And when this love fills our hearts, we naturally serve God with joy. As Eugene preached on Sunday:
The law says to us do and you shall live
The Gospel proclaims done, it is finished
Jesus says to us, believe in me and you shall live
This does not mean that our actions do not matter, but joy in the Lord is a good litmus test for us to know if we have the right understanding of the gospel. Are we trusting in Christ alone or are we trusting in something else? Along the way, have you fallen into the trap of believing that your relationship with God is dependent on what you do? How are you doing spiritually?
My hope and prayer for us is that we continue to trust in Jesus Christ alone for our righteousness and salvation. We can be at peace knowing for certain that if we are trusting in Jesus, our relationship with God is always good. I hope that we repent of the times when we think and act like our standing before God is based on anything we do. I pray that God’s Spirit will work in us to produce joy as He produces fruit in us.