Somehow many of us grew up in the church with the idea that Jesus is our savior to cover what we can't do for ourselves. There is a saying like this, "God only helps those who help themselves." It strongly implies that God is only willing to help us when we come to the end of our own efforts. Jesus is going to make up the difference or fill in the gaps of what we can't do. When the scriptures says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" we take it to mean that what I may fall short of accomplishing Christ puts me over.
This understanding then places a lot but not all of the burden of life still upon each of us to do our part. We quote James, "Faith without works is dead" interpreting that to mean that we have to do works along with our faith. This all reinforces the concept that God is our aide, supplement, and insurance of some kind to help us in life.
If God is helping us as in providing what is missing, then at some point in this team effort I can take some credit. We pray for help and expect God to make up what is missing; however, at the core of the work is our work. God is helping me!
This means that God is like our co-pilot...
This understanding then places a lot but not all of the burden of life still upon each of us to do our part. We quote James, "Faith without works is dead" interpreting that to mean that we have to do works along with our faith. This all reinforces the concept that God is our aide, supplement, and insurance of some kind to help us in life.
If God is helping us as in providing what is missing, then at some point in this team effort I can take some credit. We pray for help and expect God to make up what is missing; however, at the core of the work is our work. God is helping me!
This means that God is like our co-pilot...