Monday's follow-up to Sunday's message: It's not your fault

It’s not your fault.

You hear that all the time.  Sometimes it’s a legitimate circumstance.  Sometimes it seems like someone’s making an excuse for their bad choices.  And whether it’s said in a good way or bad, it’s almost always overused.  We can get calloused to the “it’s not your fault” claim, because we know there are simply lots of things that are our fault.

But what about your friends who don’t know Christ?  You’ve told them about Christ, about His forgiveness.  You’ve offered Godly advice to them for their life’s struggles.  You’ve even comforted them from God’s Word when they needed.  And while it seems like they’ve come close to faith so many times, they still have not made that final step. 

Is that your fault?

For some reason, God places limits on what His limitless Word can do.  It’s true that the Word has converted the hardest of hearts.  It has made alive the most spiritually dead of sinners.  We know that because that’s what it’s done for us. 

But at the same time, the enormous, life-giving power of God’s Word cannot revive the cold hearts of those who will not heed its warnings nor take comfort from its promises.  God would rather go the trouble of adopting children than forcibly converting robots. 

That’s why your friend won’t believe; because God won’t force them to.  He will call, He will gather, He will enlighten.  Through His Word, He will continue to daily extend His gracious offer of life and salvation, always willing to forgive the deepest sins and the greatest heresies of those who hear His Word and believe.  But he will not force belief upon them.

So you, Christian, continue to offer God’s Word.  Life it out in your life for your friend to see.  Drop Jesus’ name into your conversations.  Give advice based upon God’s Word and let them know that’s where it came from.  Don’t blame yourself and grow weary even if they don’t believe:  You are giving them God’s Word.  Offering them His promises.  Offering them His life.