“Thus says the Lord:
‘Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
Let not the mighty man glory in his might,
Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
But let him who glories glory in this,
That he understands and knows Me,
That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.
For in these I delight,’ says the Lord” (Jer. 9:23,24).*
As I was driving home the other day, the Home Depot jingle came on the radio, “You can do it; we can help”! I thought, This reminds me of “Home Depot Discipleship”!
Isn’t that how many Christians live? They go to their “Home Depot” store (church) on Sunday morning and get the instruction’s of “how they can do it”! “Just follow this principle. Just give this amount. Just pray at this time. Just read this amount, and then you will be blessed! Oh, by the way, if you get in trouble, then He can help!”
(By the way, I often wonder what kind of construction is done by those who go to these clinics at Home Depot. Do they ever get the project done? Or do they give up when they realize–even with expert instructions–they cannot drive a solid nail, they cannot saw a straight edge, they cannot lay a level brick. It would be so much better if they could bring the expert home with them and somehow let him work through their hands…)
Home Depot Discipleship? High hopes but very few projects completed. However, as my friend pointed out to me, some do get the “house” built, albeit built on shifting sand and over the years it begins to need much repair. They may pray, “It all looked so good on paper or in the ‘store’ Sunday, but Lord, I have a mess here on my hands this Monday. Can you help?”
God might answer, “No, I can’t help you but I will take over if you will just trust me to take care of this project for you, and let me work through you”!
“Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me…And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:12,13,19).*
Christ declared, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing … By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (John 15:5,8).
So how can you “do it”? How can you lead a fulfilling Christian life? You can admit: “I can’t!” (He never said you could). God can! (He always said He would.)
*Additional Scripture quotations added