But God...
As we look around at the current state of the world, it can be so easy to become fearful, frustrated, and even angry. It is a daily battle to lay these temptations down and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. As I was reading the other night, the Lord led me to Ephesians 2:1-5 that says:
“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),”
I was reminded that before God opens our eyes to the truth of His Word, we are like a ship without an anchor drifting away from shore. We are easily caught up in the waves of life, being tossed this way and that, not realizing how far we have drifted. When we have no anchor, it is easy to believe the lies that the world tells and give in to our flesh. The waves do not have to convince the boat to come, they just carry it off.
But God... because of His great love, because of His mercy and grace through Jesus Christ, He opens up our eyes to the truth and pulls us to shore. He anchors us to the Rock of our salvation so we can no longer be carried away. When we are tempted to be afraid, frustrated, or even angry, we must remember:
“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Ephesians 6:12
Remembering that we were dead in our trespasses but are now alive in Christ should motivate us to point others to Jesus. Instead of being frustrated, we need to pray for those not anchored to Christ. May the Lord open their eyes and pull them to shore. When our flesh grows angry we must remember “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Now we are called to be like a lighthouse, beckoning others to shore and pointing them to our hope in Christ. May the Lord help us to love others as He has loved us, to forgive others as He has forgiven us.
“...let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:1-2
Fix your eyes on Him and when the waves come, remember, "but God."