Misplaced Confidence

It is my opinion that many people think they are doing better in their faith then they actually are doing in their walk with God.  The phrase 'I believe in God' seems to be so easy for many to say but what is their confidence that God is OK with their walk as a believer.  I am not saying they do not believe because I am not their Judge but we are called to examine our faith.  Even in that statement many if not most think they have but what is their standard of that examination?  I am raising one of my concerns for the American church today.  The words that many believers are saying is not matching their life as a true follower of Jesus Christ.  I titled this blog 'misplace confidence' because most Christians think they are OK and if that is true the church in America would be much healthier then it is at this time.  What do many today put their confidence in that they think they are OK but according to the teachings of Jesus they have things lacking in their faith?  This list is not complete but shows how many justify what they are doing.  1.  God judges my heart not my actions and I have good intentions.  2.  God understands my situation and He told me that what I am doing (this will vary greatly depending on the person) is OK.  3.  I made a confession of faith in a church and attend occasionally so I am OK.  4.  We all have weaknesses and this is how God made me and I cannot change.  5.  I was born in a Christian home and go to church.  Let me say that there are many others but the standard upon which they think they are OK is flawed because our foundation is Jesus and Jesus alone.  In Jeremiah 7  there was a time that the children of Israel thought they were OK if they said the words "This is the temple of the Lord, this is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord."  They thought they were OK if they said the right words but in verse 4 Jeremiah said these words are deceptive.  The context here is they were saying the right words but their actions did not match their words.  If God judged the children of Israel when their words did not match their actions do we think today that we are going to be an exception to the principles of God?  I say what the apostle Paul said "Take heed lest you fall".  In saying this I am not suggesting in any form a legalistic approach to be OK with God but Jesus said several times on the night before He died on the cross that if you love Him that you would obey His teachings.  This is a question of your love priorities in life.  If you say that you love God then you will make God a priority in your life.  If you say that you love God and then have priorities in your life that God gets pushed to the rear then you really do not love God as much as you are claiming.  My confidence is based upon the truth that God love me so much that Jesus came and died on the cross to give me life and hope.  Jesus rose from the grave and is alive forevermore to give us strength to do life His way.  This alone is my confidence that God loves me and I love Him for all He has done for me.  Let us stop making excuses and renew our relationship with Jesus who alone saves us from our sins.  My confidence is not in my words but in the truth that Jesus loves me so I can love Him in return.  In doing this my actions will begin to look more like Him as we remain in His love.
May the Spirit bring a fresh revelation of His love to your life.

Pastor John