Monday, June 16, 2025

 Let us carefully consider the tragic and deplorable condition of our fallen hearts when it comes to fulfilling our moral obligations, and at the same time, recognize the divine origin of our noble and virtuous actions. Divine forgiveness flows from God's uncreated and sovereign power, which is entirely independent of anything created. When the appointed time arrives, God will exert His omnipotent means—an infinite and all-encompassing power—guided by His perfect nature. The granting of this forgiveness is entirely dependent upon God's divine will; human efforts, no matter how sincere, are fundamentally insufficient to earn it. Similarly, God's mercy cannot be secured simply through superficial acts of confession or by rigidly adhering to external rituals. Genuine prayer, righteous deeds, and steadfast resistance to sin are not guarantees that we will be spared God's judgment; rather, they are outward expressions of authentic faith and heartfelt devotion. The Heavenly Father has declared judgment upon the sins, guilt, and harmful offenses that dwell within us. Yet, despite this divine pronouncement, we often tend to disregard our transgressions, standing alone amidst His forgiving grace, as if it were automatic or automatic pilot. This mindset can lead us to overlook our moral failings altogether. We are inherently unable to fully meet God's perfect standards because our acts of true worship—offered with our whole hearts, minds, and strength—are often incomplete or inadequate. Morally, we are compromised in every aspect of our active lives, making it impossible to present ourselves as perfectly righteous before Him. It is also a mistake to believe that we have a moral obligation to nurture or indulge our sinful tendencies, particularly since God has thoroughly examined our hearts and revealed our guilt to us. When we face struggles and temptations, we are immediately made aware of our moral shortcomings before God; we carry moral culpability, and our only true comfort lies in His grace. Yet, we often forget that salvation is solely a gift from God; instead, we seek refuge in superficial acts of humility that mask our true spiritual state. This superficiality can lead us to idolize false spiritual pursuits and neglect genuine relationship with God. Sin gradually erodes our desire for authentic Christian living because familiarity with moral laws can become a way to justify old sinful habits rather than overcoming them. At times, we experience feelings of boredom, ignorance of the joy available to us, and an overwhelming sense of guilt—emotions that often reinforce our old temptations. Our perceived sense of safety is insufficient for resting confidently in God's divine grace; instead, our ongoing confusion about pride causes us to associate humility with condemnation and law rather than with God's mercy. In the ongoing battle against pride, a teacher once observed that many Christians experience this boredom because obedience alone does not always completely dispel the restless feeling within. The apparent lack of constant struggle can cause us to fall into a superficial “autopilot” mode in our faith, relying on routine and external observances rather than genuine spiritual growth and transformation.

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