What Do I Have To Do

What Do I Have To Do?                                  02-24-17

Romans 8:38-39 (ESV) ³⁸  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
³⁹  nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I read a Facebook post this morning by David Wilkerson entitled "The Bewitching Of  The Saints." It seemed to mesh perfectly with what I was going to write about today.But,alas I am computer illiterate and could not figure out how to copy it to this message.Go to world challenge.org if you are interested in reading it.That being said.

Have you ever asked the above question? You know..."what do i have to do?" "WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO?" You know it's most often a cry or shout for approval. What do I have to do to.........make you proud?  to make it right?........to make you love me? Remember that song? Elton John maybe or Ray Charles? What do I have to do to make you love me? I can hear it now in my ear.

I was talking to a friend this week past and they related to me their struggles with relationship.They had been let down and disappointed.Where was the love?Let me tell you something about human relationships. If Solomon couldn't understand it......

Proverbs 30:18-19 (NASB) ¹⁸  There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Four which I do not understand:
¹⁹  The way of an eagle in the sky, The way of a serpent on a rock, The way of a ship in the middle of the sea, And the way of a man with a maid.


smile.just kidding......JUST KIDDING.

No,it's not about human relationships that I am speaking of. In this world with humans of all persuasions,the love we seek will be imperfect and flawed at best.You hearin me here? But,I believe that is a question that people in general and Christians specifically ask of God.You ever been struggling and asked God that question?

God, "WHAT HAVE I GOT TO DO TO MAKE YOU LOVE ME?"

And herein lieth the lesson.

In this world today and especially in western culture, the idea of earning is driven into our minds and spirits.We must earn our living. We must earn our advancement. We must earn our spot on the team.It seems everything must be earned. It fosters an intensely competitive spirit. Now many,many times that is not a bad thing. It drives us to try and better ourselves in this world in which we live. Unfortunately,in this life there really are no trophies for participation. But, that is not the case in the spiritual realm is it.There are things in God's world that simply cannot be earned.TRY AS WE MIGHT!

As a matter of fact God is very straightforward,even blunt about the fact that we CAN'T earn ANYTHING in HIS SIGHT. And just what would that be Ronnie? Well,for starters how about salvation,righteousness,justification,sanctification,perseverance,and all those other $10 dollar words we throw about. But probably the most difficult word that we strive with is L O V E.

Remember the question? What do I have to do.....? Here's the short answer.

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.  AGAIN.  ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. SELAH.

Pause and think about that.Here's the verses again.

Romans 8:38-39 (ESV) ³⁸  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
³⁹  nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

".....nor anything else in all creation........"Nothing that God has created can separate you from His love. That's easy enough until we realize that takes in us. US! We, you and me. There is nothing that we,you and I(we are created beings) can do that will separate us from the love of God in His son Jesus.

Do we really believe that? Has that truth really taken root in our souls. Do we really deep down in our core EXPERIENCE the love that the LORD JESUS has for us? I will leave you with this insight I discovered that I believe answers those questions.

Do you work out or do you work up? Whaddya sayin' here Ronnie? Just this.

In my spiritual walk are my efforts always directed up. Am I concerned with pleasing God by praying more,or reading my Bible more, or attempting to be more holy etc., etc.,

Or are my efforts more directed at sharing the love that God has for me outward towards others that may be struggling or may not know Jesus as Savior.

You see brothers and sisters,if I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior I have already pleased God as much as I am going to be able to please Him. My ONLY reconciliation comes through the cross of Calvary. I can do NOTHING ELSE to please God.

Read the whole 5th Chapter of 2nd Corinthians. Here's a sample.

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (ESV) ²⁰  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
²¹  For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

If we ever truly come to grips with this truth. If we ever get it on the inside of us that we are reconciled then our works will cease to be upwards. They will instead,prompted by the Holy Ghost, be outward toward a lost and dying world.

Brothers and sisters, God loves you and me. Can't earn it in any shape,fashion or form. He just does.

Psalm 36:5 (ESV) ⁵  Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.



God Bless