OUR DECISIONS, COMMITMENTS, DOUBTS, AND FEELINGS

 

 

How do all of these elements of the Christian life fit together? When we fail to understand them in a consistent manner, we will remain confused and even tormented by doubts.

 

Let’s start from the beginning with the advent of New Life:

 

·       But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior. (Titus 3:4-6)

 

Through regeneration, He opens our hearts/minds to see and believe and to turn from our sinful life. However, as important as believing facts is, this is not enough to save us. Even the demons believe in these same facts (James 2:19), but this will not save them. Instead, their hearts must also be committed to these facts. This is a by-product of saving faith, which produces obedience:

 

·       By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son. (Hebrews 11:17)

 

Abraham’s trust in his God, after walking with God for about 40 years, had produced obedience, and obedience produced blessing and eventually for the world (Genesis 22:18).

 

When we trust, we commit ourselves to obey what our Lord instructs us to do. When we don’t trust, obedience is only superficial and fails to please our Lord. Without faith, it is impossible to please Him:

 

·       And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. Hebrews 11:6–7

 

Faith and trust must precede obedience, or else obedience and our twisted motives underlying “obedience” will not please God. Therefore, our decisions to trust in Him are the all-important element. Everyone has the knowledge of God (Romans 1:18-21), but few commit to it.

 

This may be obvious, but I wonder if we understand its implications. Instead, we tend to look at our feelings and doubts rather than at our decisions and commitments. Consequently, it is inevitable that we become discouraged regarding our level of faith.

 

Instead, we should be encouraged to see that we are committed to trusting in Jesus, however difficult this might seem.

 

We all have temptations to sin and even to doubt. However, the Bible teaches that Jesus had the same types of temptations as we have, but He did not sin:

 

·       For we do not have a high priest [Jesus] who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)

 

This means that temptation itself is not sin until we embrace it. Nor does it mean that there is something the matter with our faith because we experience continuous temptations.

 

Eventually, saving faith commits to trusting God by doing what He tells us to do. For example, I might be tempted to take revenge against someone who hurt me. It might be a powerful temptation, but I can still decide to honor my Lord and to not take revenge. I can also decide to disobey my feelings and pray for him. This honors my Savior.

 

What if you are lukewarm? If your feelings are lukewarm, no problem. You can still decide to put the Lord first in your life, above all other considerations. However, if you are lukewarm in terms of his commitment to the Lord, that’s entirely another matter. Jesus taught:

 

·       “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:37-39)

 

For Jesus, love isn’t primarily a feeling but a commitment to abide in His teachings:

 

·       “Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.” (John 14:23-24)

 

If you are lukewarm regarding your commitment to Jesus, you can still pray, “Lord, give me the desire to honor you before all else.” If you pray this sincerely and continue, you will receive:

 

·       But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)

 

If you pray this way and are willing to wait for the Lord’s answer, you will receive. Why? Because you are praying according to the will of God:

 

·       And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. (1 John 5:15)

 

It’s a matter of what you want and not what you feel. Therefore, Jesus lamented:

 

·       “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” (Matthew 23:37)