What does God do when we no longer want to connect with Him?
Apr 16, 2010
Case for Grace - part twenty-six of a study of the book of Romans
Mike Gaudet
At first it’s easy for us to put forth the effort to connect with God.
As time goes on it’s harder to maintain the desire to put forth the same effort.
What does God do when we no longer want to connect with Him?
“What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.” Romans 9:14-16
Discipline.
Determination.
These qualities get noticed in our world. The best jobs demand these qualities. Those who receive athletic and academic honors are recognized for their desire and effort.
However, our desire and effort to please God do not attract His merciful involvement . . . “It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.” Divine compassion is not dependent on human volition or human exertion.
God’s desire is to bestow “mercy” and “compassion.“ Mercy and compassion are gifts God gives to those who realize that their discipline and determination are lacking.
We tend to feel more comfortable approaching God when we have been more obedient. We tend to feel less comfortable approaching Him when we have been less obedient. When we are depending on our desire and effort to connect with God, we are not depending on His mercy and compassion. We are looking to receive deserved rewards, not undeserved gifts.
Granted, discipline and determination are required of those who walk with God. We are encouraged to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1 Our spiritual journey is like a long-distance race. Desire is what we need to begin the race. Effort is what we need to finish it.
Discipline and determination, however, are not the reason for God’s involvement with us . . .
. . . they are the result of God’s involvement with us.
“Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.” Hebrews 11:24-27
Moses’ determination enabled him to say yes to God and no to “the pleasures of sin” and the “treasures of Egypt.” It would be a mistake, however, to assume that Moses’ desire and effort made the difference. Moses persevered because he experienced God personally . . .“he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.”
Conscious contact with God fueled Moses’ desire and effort.
We assume that commitment and courage lead to conscious contact with God. The opposite is true - conscious contact with God lead to commitment and courage.
What does God do when we no longer want to connect with Him?
He reaches out to us with mercy and compassion.
He reminds us of what drew us to Him in the first place.