It would probably sound strange if I were to say that Christians don’t need to “try harder” at being Christians. Nevertheless, one of our greatest problems when it comes to following Christ is that we look too much to our own power. The idea that I need to “try harder” will sometimes create a sense of pride if we are successful; or it will create a sense of frustration if we fail. The solution to this is not that we should “try harder.” But rather, we should “trust more.” Rather than looking to self, we should look to Jesus in ever-increasing amounts and plead for his mercy as the Holy Spirit conforms us to the character of Christ.
Once, in Jesus’s earthly ministry, he was asked about how someone could “work the works of God.” Jesus’s answer is very telling: “Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” (John 6:28-29 NASB) How do we please God? How do we obey what God commands? How do we “work the works of God?” The answer is to not “work” at all, but rather to believe (or trust) in Jesus and his finished work on our behalf.
Not only will our “works” fail to attain salvation for us; they will in some ways condemn us. The Jewish Pharisees produced many “works” in which they took much pride. But prideful works do not save. They simply give evidence of a sinful and arrogant heart --- the very type of heart we need saved from. In Ephesians, the Bible say that our salvation is “not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:9) If we could work our way to Heaven, then we would brag about our goodness. But since we can’t work our way to Heaven, we must trust in Jesus and thus brag on him instead.
Of course, if someone is truly saved; then their life will reflect it in their “works.” Holiness and obedience unto Christ will be evident in every Christian’s life. But these good works are the “fruit” of our salvation and not the “root” of it. And we certainly should strive and make it our ambition to please the Lord. But we must do so in HIS power, not our own. Salvation is always and only “of the Lord.”
So Christian, you don’t need to “try harder.” You need to “trust more.” You need to look to Jesus every hour of every day to do inside you what you can’t do yourself. Forget about yourself and look to the Lord. “Believe in Him whom the Father has sent.” Don’t try, but trust.
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