Along the Road of Sanctification

"The more we begin to feel satisfied that we are making some progress along the road of sanctification, it is all the more necessary to repent and confess that all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Yet the Christian life is not one of gloom, but of ever increasing joy in the Lord.

God alone knows our good works, all we know is his good work. We can do no more than hearken to his commandment, carry on and rely on his grace, walk in his commandments, and- sin.

All the time our new righteousness, our sanctification, the light which is meant to shine, are veiled from our eyes. The left hand knows not what the right hand does. But we believe, and are well assured, "that he which began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1.6).

In that day Christ will show us the good works of which we were unaware. While we knew it not, we gave him food, drink and clothing and visited him, and while we knew it not we rejected him. Great will be our astonishment in that day, and we shall then realize that it is not our works which remain, but the work which God has wrought through us in his good time without any effort of will and intention on our part (Matt. 25.31ff).

Once again we simply are to look away from ourselves to him who has himself accomplished all things for us and to follow him."

~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer, "The Cost of Discipleship", pg.335

(Thanks, Linda!)

I get discouraged with myself on a fairly regular basis. I certainly don't measure up to the standards I have set for myself; much less do I measure up to God's standard. My house isn't clean enough, my yard is full of weeds, my children aren't taught well enough, my laundry isn't done... the list goes on.

I am happy that I have been reading my Bible (feasting!!) and have been utterly blessed by this. However, like Dietrich Bonhoeffer says, as soon as I feel satisfied with my progress, it is all the more necessary to repent.

The ONLY thing I can do is to read the Word and obey it, carry on (picking myself up, dusting myself off, and starting all over again, each day), relying on His grace - knowing I will sin. I know I am not good enough. I know I'll never get it right.

But somehow, God is working. Somehow, God is using me and my life and my feeble efforts for His own glory.

So, I press on. With Joy.

What Encourages Me?

As the mother of a dozen children ranging in age from just-turned-ten to nearly-thirty-four (and that one's still my baby!), I can get discouraged with the chaos that a large family brings. The married ones traipse home with their broods, and while I am ever-greatful for each one of them, I get to whining and complaining. "Look, the house is a mess [again!]; Sigh, I need to cook supper for about a million people [again]!"

But when a little granddaughter climbs into my lap and says in her sweet baby-voice, "I love you, Granny!", my heart melts. When a big, strapping boy (one of my sons or grandsons) offers to carry those groceries or get me a footstool, my heart is warmed.

What encourages me and helps me to keep on in spite of the noise and confusion a large family brings is the fact that these lives matter, for eternity. I am the mom. I am the granny. The one who will make a difference in the lives of each of these people.

When they see me with my Bible in hand, they know that it is precious to me. When they hear me exhort them to do well, or remind them that God is watching, they know that I know that He is real, and He is the One Who will hold us accountable. I have the privilege of teaching them that God is Just AND Good, that He is Righteous AND Merciful.

I look at my grown children, and I am encouraged to know that they are walking in truth... that they are following after God. There is no greater joy. There is no greater encouragement.

3 John 1:4

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.