Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? Galatians 3:5
I know a man who is constantly defeated by his sin. Though he claims to have a belief in God's grace, he tends to put too much emphasis on his personal righteousness. The smallest infraction can devastate him for weeks at a time.
As an outside observer, it is easy to see that he keeps forgetting God's promise. This man has somehow learned that his faith isn't enough - that God doesn't really come through for those who believe. It truly breaks my heart.
What breaks my heart the most is how much my friend is a reflection of who I was. For so many years, I lived in that amusement park. Life was one up-and-down ride after another. God's grace was never enough to save me. Only by observing the law perfectly could I ever be worthy of His love.
Lord, the Law could save me if I could follow it. Yet I am a man in need of grace. Help my friend to see the truth. Help him to see how much You love him. Christ died so we would not. Thank You for changing my heart.