Dead Works

When God calls us to do something we know it is right, it is for him, it is advancing the kingdom, it is a good and right thing to do.

What about when we are not sure God has called us to do something? Or he hasn't called us to do something? Or we (just us) think something is a good idea? Something that may advance his kingdom anyway, something that honours and glorifies him, something in faith, something out of love and joy, something good and exciting, should we do it anyway? Without a specific confirmation from the Lord?!

Or would that be a dead work, a tangent, distraction, red-herring getting in the way of what he wants us to do anyway?

Do we pray, asking for the answer or confirmation we want to move forward, do we just move forward without confirmation, or do we stop and look for his will again?

I don't remember specifically being called to do June Project, to go to Soul Survivor, to help at CU events, to be on the pure team, but I did them anyway. Were these works dead? Or were they made alive through my faith and God's grace in me? I do remember feeling called to do certain things that I didn't actually do, like 'a mission to Southport', like a chat to a friend and others, did my apathy, other people's apathy, my lack of time, my worldly mind stop me from doing God's will and lead me to dead works...? I do remember being called to do something that I did do, like CU in Birkdale, or questioning friends' faith at times like easter... were those works alive in God, was the kingdom advanced through my work, was God glorified?

Should I just go for it until I get the no-no from God?

Have I been called to do this and the Devil is putting doubts in my mind?

Can I do a good work if God hasn't called me to it? Should I?!

Just a few questions....!

The Freedom of Christ

So, I haven't posted for a while but there has been a lot going around in my head.

I have been reading God's Lavish Grace by Terry Virgo over the last few days. I am really enjoying it. My one sentence review would be that it reminds me of all the fundamentals of what Jesus did on the cross. This is important!

One thing that the book spends a lot of time on is the law, all the things that people think about when looking at Christianity;

The 'Thou shalt not...'-s, etc etc.

But Terry Virgo points out that in Jesus this is not the case (now this is surely a basic to our faith, how easy has it been for me to forget...), in fact the grace that Jesus brought through dying on the cross renders 'the law', the 'thou shalt not'-s, the 'prohibitions' that Christianity has become famous for absolutely obsolete.

We are free in Christ to be who we are, whoever we want to be, to be free from Sin, from the law, to be free from condemnation. There is now no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ.

We have, for so long, preached and taught the law, the 'thou shalt not'-s when the bible is so clear in the opposite. Clear that Grace covers a multitude of sins, that we are dead to the law, that Jesus saves.

I would like to ask people on the street to name something they know from the bible to see what proportion would say the 10 commandments.

Terry Virgo points out that the law does have some purpose, and that it is essential to point out sin, to reveal sin, but it is not now to condemn, maybe to encourage but not condemn. Who are we to say 'thou shalt not' to someone...?

So, God's grace is enough to cover the law, we no longer live under the law but under his grace. This is why we worship him.

Let's tell people more about this grace, it saves.

(I think some of the things I say aren't quite right, please tell me if I have worded things a bit interestingly!!!)