All We Can Do

A man was fearful of pickpockets in the city. He took a proactive stance, to use the current buzzword phrase he heard at work, and paid for classes in body awareness and basic personal defense. He tried to be aware of his immediate environment at all times. He moved his wallet to a front pocket and began wearing a money belt. Feeling better prepared and filled with new confidence in his own strength, he stepped out late one evening for a stroll in the park. As this world would have it, an accomplice distracted the man by taking a photo with a big flash unit, while a mugger whacked the man over the head knocking him unconscious before stealing his wallet and the money belt. To add insult to his injury, before the man could recover his senses, someone made off with his pants and shoes.

All we can do in this world in the strength and wits that we possess will not be enough to save us. Forces small and large defeat us in this world. How then can we ever think to save ourselves from the powers we know not? How does man in his weakness ever think to challenge God in his immeasurable strength? Yet we see it all the time. Perhaps we have tried it once or twice too? All we can do will not amount to salvation when we face the final judgment. We cannot hope to balance the divine scales with all our good deeds. Ironically, the least thing that we can do produces the greatest of saving grace.

Believe in Jesus, trust in His forgiveness, and judgment is satisfied, righteousness is ours, and eternal life is given to us. How do we deserve such divine favor? Of course, we don't, not in our own strength and never in our own goodness. In Christ alone we are saved. The smallest seed of faith grows into the greatest of trees. No work we do can produce what God gives freely through His Son. All we can do...is believe.

Rejoice in the day through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Bucky