One of the hardest things about recognizing our need for Jesus is that we often don't think we need Him.
When we're comfortable, successful, and surrounded by God's blessings, it's easy to take those blessings for granted. The sermon described it this way: a starving person sees food as life, while someone with a table full of food may see it simply as pleasure. Sometimes we don't recognize our hunger for God because we've become so accustomed to His blessings.
Romans 1 reminds us that our greatest problem isn't simply that we don't know about God. We often suppress what we know and exchange God's truth for our own way. We convince ourselves that we can build the life we want, become the person we want to be, and determine what is right and wrong for ourselves.
But we can't bluff God.
He knows our hearts. He knows our thoughts. He knows what we try to hide, what we reject, and even what we refuse to admit to ourselves. And the truth is, none of us has a good enough “hand” to earn our way to God. We are sinners in need of rescue.
That's why the gospel is such good news.
Jesus lived the perfect life we could never live. He died on the cross to take the penalty for our sin. He rose again, and through faith in Him, we receive forgiveness, life, and the presence of God within us. Jesus doesn't simply make our lives a little better. He gives us the life we were created for.
So the question isn't whether you have a need for God.
The question is whether you are willing to recognize that need and surrender to Him.
You don't have to keep pretending you've got everything figured out. You don't have to keep trying to build your own version of the perfect life. You don't have to double down on a life that is taking you away from God.
Surrender.
Trust the God who created you. Trust the God who loves you. Trust the God who sent His Son to rescue you.
You don't need to pretend you're strong enough. You simply need to recognize that you need a Savior.
Reflect:
- Where are you tempted to live as though you don't need God?
- What part of your life are you trying to control instead of surrendering to Jesus?
- What would it look like for you to trust God with that area today?
Pray:
Jesus, help me recognize how much I need You. Forgive me for the times I've tried to build my life my own way and trusted myself instead of You. Help me surrender every part of my life to You. Thank You for loving me, dying for my sin, and rescuing me when I could never rescue myself. Amen.
