While We Are Still Weak

⁶For while we were still weak, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷Rarely will one give one’s life for a righteous person; for a good person one might dare to die. ⁸But God makes clear how much he loves us because while were were still sinners, Christ died for us. — Romans 5:6-8

You know, sometimes I think Christianity is so easy that it’s hard. That may seem like a strange statement, but I find God’s grace somewhat difficult to get hold of. That’s why I am concerned about anyone saying we have to really understand salvation before we can receive it. I don’t think we do understand it.

Most of us have figured out pretty clearly that we came to Christ bringing nothing to the table. We din’t have any bargaining chips to make Jesus take us into God’s kingdom on any of our own terms. It was grace, plain and simple. It may have been hard to see that. We may have a very hard time feeling it even when we already know it. But we do get it in general.

Then comes the moment of failure. What am I going to do? I’m going to try to find all the things I need to do right. I’m going to try to make agreements with God. “I’ll give $XX every week for the test of my life if . . .” Sometimes we make commitments regarding our behavior. Often this amounts to telling God that in exchange for his favor we’ll do something we were supposed to to anyhow.

It might just be me, but I don’t think so. I suspect there will be lots of readers who will think of times when they have said, “God, if you’ll get me out of this situation I’ll …”

But God is a pretty consistent God. He’s still working on the grace plan. He wants to make you fully a part of his kingdom. When you come to him as a miserable failure, he doesn’t toss you out with the garbage. He applies some more grace. And more. And more. And more.

While we are still weak – God loves us!

While we are still weak – God accepts us!

While we are still weak – God calls us!

While we are still weak – God equips us!

While we are still weak – God keeps on working on us and molding us!

Now there are times when God wants you to work. There are things it’s good for you to do. God likes you to develop character. The thing is that none of that is the basis on which God accepts you. Just as a mother loves the child who brings home the Ds on a report card just as she loves the child who brings home As, so God loves each of us.

Now he may want us to work on the D—and F—areas of our lives. But we do that ever and always as his children.

He brought us to him while we were still weak. He continues to work while we are still weak.