How Can I make my Life Work?



If Only I could Do it Over!
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 Each Sunday I glean from Pastor Jerry’s Sermon.  On this day he was reading from Luke 7:36 and then Galatians 2:15-21

To begin his sermon, he mentioned several scenarios of woe and then the question: “How can I make my life work.

A boy attending college for 4 years and then returning home.  The privacy of his parents is now disturbed and the son has no ambition.  Both wonder how can I make life work?

Others with divorce, job loss, death of a spouse, parent's teen son is murdered, workers who finally reach pension age, discover their pension was lost in the recession. 

 

Each was asking the same question, “How can I make my life work under these circumstances?”

In the 16^th century, Martin Luther asked, “How can I find a gracious God?”

Trials, tests, illness, and tragedy are not new.  The question is not new, and  it is still being asked today.

How can I keep a loving relationship with family and friends, when I am falling apart?

Those inside the Church and those outside were both interviewed.  The ones inside believed that sinners were still asking as Nicodemus did, “What must I do to be saved?”

Actually the people outside the church were asking, “How can I make my life work?”

In Luke chapter 7, Jesus visited at the house of Simon, and there entered a women of questionable reputation and poured an expensive ointment over Jesus and began to wash his feet with her tears. 

Simon was offended, but Jesus rebuked him and told a story or two men whom the Banker forgave their debt.  One a large debt and the other much smaller.  Which one will be more grateful asked Jesus.  Simon answered, “I suppose the one who was forgiven the most.” 

Then Jesus told the women, “Your sins are forgiven, and your faith has saved you, go in peace.”

"There is a distinct difference between belief and faith. What is belief? It is a principle, proposition, idea that is accepted as true; opinion, conviction; religious faith; trust or confidence.  What is faith? It is the confident assurance in the character and nature of God; a strong or unshakeable belief in something, without proof or evidence." anon

If rule keeping would save us, then Jesus would have died in vain.  No it is not our works that saves us, but a realization that it is NO longer I but Christ. 

 

This is the answer to the often asked question.  I can, through faith in the Son of God who lives in me and through me.

Galatians 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

This post is shared with Charlotte’s Spiritual Sundays