Not Try, but Trust

"It is not "try" but trust, not "do" but done."

Corrie Ten Boom

This is one gleaming nugget of wisdom plucked from the surface of an address Corrie Ten Boom made to a group of largely new believers.  In the message she emphasised the love of Jesus and the blessing of forgiveness.  When Corrie speaks of Jesus and the Gospel, it sounds very simple - and it is.  We have ways, however, to exponentially complicate matters when we try to do in the flesh what can only be performed through the Spirit.

One of Corrie's common object lessons was a flashlight with only one battery stuffed with rags.  She said that when a person makes a decision to follow Christ and is born again, it is like one battery is placed within us.  But one battery will not allow that flashlight to operate.  We need the second battery, which she said is the gift of the Holy Spirit who operates within us in power.  The spot for the second battery was filled with crumpled rags which each represented a sin:  self-pity, unforgiveness, and lies.  Those rags must be confessed and forsaken before the Holy Spirit can have His proper place in our hearts and cause our light to shine before men so they might see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.

If we try to forgive, we will find at some point we are unable.  We must trust God is able, because forgiveness is according to His will.  When we submit to God even when we feel it is impossible and choose to obey, He will do it.  We can be duped to focus on what we have to do when we should instead look to what Jesus has already done.  Because of what Jesus has already done, He provides power and ability to do.  It is not us doing it, but God through us.  What a comfort this is to those who are heavy laden and in need of rest!  Let us rest in God and the promise of the Spirit.  When we try His promises, He will prove them true.