Under Pressure

“It is God who justifies.” –Romans 8:33

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” –Romans 8:37-39

“’Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord of Hosts.” –Zechariah 4:6

In reading through these passages of Scripture, I have been so humbled. I understand the doctrine of grace, but sometimes, I just don’t live in light of it. I try to earn things by God- like I can be “righteous” enough to earn His favor! I am still a sinner! With out the atoning blood of Christ- I am nothing! I am separated from God; unclean; a vessel of wrath; a child of darkness; I am lost. But I still get stuck in the mindset of having to “earn” things with God. I think, If I’m a good Christian, then maybe God will answer my prayers. Maybe He will reward me for “good behavior.” How ridiculous is that?

And yet- I have been doing this as I pray for Ryan’s salvation. I catch myself thinking, If I just pray long enough, often enough, hard enough- then God has to save him. Like God owes ME something! Sometimes, I really need to learn to view myself in light of Ecclesiastes 5:2- “God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.” God knows everything. He has planned everything. Nothing happens that He doesn’t know about, and consent to (Hebrews 2:6-8). He already knows how all this is going to turn out. He knows if Ryan will be saved. I don’t, but I need to be confident in God’s sovereignty, in His omnipotence. He knows what is best.

Not only that, but if Ryan will be saved one day, Scripture tells us that nothing can separate him from the love of Christ! Nothing can separate any of us from the love of Christ! Scripture also tells us that it is God alone that saves. We can see both of these points illustrated in the Scripture quoted at the beginning of my post. So Ryan’s salvation (and my own) doesn’t depend on how badly I want it, how often I pray for it, how many people are praying for it- those are all wonderful things; but those are not what will be responsible for someone’s salvation. It is definitely Biblical and good for us to be praying for the unsaved, to surround them with the prayer of many believers; but we are ultimately saved by God’s grace, not the works of man (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is not my prayers that will save Ryan. It is the God who hears those prayers who will save Him. To Him be the glory. Not me.