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Our Best Intentions “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do,” (Romans 7:15), so spoke the Apostle Paul. Somehow he could not translate his best intentions into the actions he wished to do. This is the dilemma that has afflicted Christians who sincerely want to do God’s will. Peter experienced it too. “Lord, I am ready to go with You to prison and to death” (Luke 22:33), he declared, and he meant it. His best intentions were to stick with his Lord, no matter what. Thomas, too, expressed his intentions. When Jesus said He was going back to Judea where the Jews had tried to stone Him, the disciples tried to dissuade Him. Realizing that nothing could stop Jesus from going to his friend Lazarus, Thomas said to the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him” (John 11:16). He meant it too. Yet, Peter denied knowing his Lord, and all the disciples fled in fear the night of His betrayal (Mark 14:50). What they wanted to do, they failed to do. What they wanted not to do, that is what they did. We understand the dilemma well. Like Peter, we weep when faced with our failures. But we do not despair, for we have learned that, while on our own we fail, with God we can do great things. Christ went to His death on Calvary in order to buy us back from sin, death, and the devil. We are no longer captive to sin and immobilized by it. “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us” (Romans 8:37). Jesus lived the perfect life for us; He shed His blood in payment for our sins; He suffered in our places; and He gives us grace that forgives our failures and gives us more opportunities to bear the fruit He called us and chose us to bear. Truly, with God we can do great things. (Taken from Stewardship Advisors 2225 East 14 Mile Road, Birmingham MI 48009)
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