Pope Leo XIV
I recently watched a movie about Pope Leo XIV, “Saving Grace”. There comes a time in many of our walks with the Lord when we wonder… am i doing enough? Am i doing this because it’s what God wants or because i know i can accomplish this? Is this all there is? Where are the miracles that are said to follow? How is this serving? So many questions and doubts. Our faith waivers.
I have been wrestling with many things. How long do i continue with those that seem to not want to change. They talk about wanting to get closer to God, return to the church, but make no moves to do so. And prayer… “pray without ceasing”. How exactly do we accomplish that?
Then there is the directive to “know no man after the flesh”. At first blush that seems obvious but i feel like what it’s really saying is to not listen to their problems. Don’t let them moan and groan about their struggles to you with the expectation that you are there to commiserate with them or tell them what to do about those problems.
When i was coming up, no matter what i sought out the Pastor to ask, his first response was, “have you prayed about it”? Thus he taught me to prayer about EVERYTHING. (An entire subject in and of itself.)
I am saved by grace ALONE not by works so I cant boast that I’m special because i did this or that and earned my way in. The whole point of his sacrifice was to redeem us from sin.
Grace means unmerited favor. We do not do anything to gain his favor. We are his children and like most parents, as children we cant do anything to make our father love us more. He just does.
Don’t throw away your joy in the Lord by doubting. Just be still and know.
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