An Imposter?
“…Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” — and I am the worst of them. But I received mercy for this reason , so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life.” 1 Timothy 1: 15b-16 csb
Have you ever felt like an imposter while working in a position of authority? Or maybe you’ve felt unqualified in the field you’re in? Some felt this way about the Apostle Paul and I dare say, at times, Paul may have felt it too. His life before Christ certainly weighed on him. We can look back at who we were and feel like who we are now is just a phony version of ourselves. Feeling like an imposter is normal; most Christians have experienced it at one point or another.
But here’s the truth: it’s a trap to get you looking inward instead of upward. Your new life in Christ serves more than one purpose, but two stand out: saving you from hell and bringing Christ glory! God demonstrates who He is by saving the most vile of creatures, fallen man. Paul declared to Timothy (who, I speculate, may have wrestled with the same “imposter syndrome” I’ve felt many times), “I am the worst!” he said. It’s almost funny, not because Paul was joking, but because it was true. In essence, Paul says, “You think you’re bad Tim, I’ve got you beat!” Yes, Paul was formerly a bad guy, but then he says, “But I have received mercy.” Mercy is a gift. And when you receive a gift, it’s yours whether you feel worthy of it or not.
Some times when we fall into old habits and sin we can begin to question “am I really saved?” Or we can feel like we were never genuinely changed, and are just an imposter! This causes a sense of hypocrisy, insecurity, and doubt. That’s exactly what condemnation is supposed to do, it is not from the Holy Spirit but from the flesh, and the devil. The truth is, friend, we will all struggle with sin, and at times blow it bad. However, whether or not you feel like a “real Christian,” in Christ you are a forgiven sinner who has also received mercy, and nothing can ever change that, not even feelings of being an imposter. Paul said this wonderful truth, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 csb. God has done this to save you and to glorify Himself through you! Friend, keep at it, walk in it, own it! Forget those who question it, including your own thought life and the devil.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!”
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 csb
Agape, Frank
Flourishing Faith and Growing Love
We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, since your faith is flourishing and the love each one of you has for one another is increasing. 2 Thessalonians 1:3 csb
I enjoy gardening very much. When I’m in the garden, I feel just a little more connected to the Lord. There are so many spiritual lessons I see while tending plants. For instance, if I want my plants to grow, I need to water them. I need to enrich the soil with organic matter and break up the hard ground. This allows the roots to receive the water, nutrients, and oxygen they need to grow into larger, healthier, and happier plants.
In the Apostle Paul’s second letter to the church in Thessalonica, he expresses his thankfulness that their faith is flourishing and their love for one another is increasing. Paul had planted this church and was now hearing about the fruit of his labor. But it made me wonder how is their faith flourishing, and how is their love increasing? What causes these two spiritual fruits to grow?
Just like a garden, there are certain elements that must be added to our lives if we want to flourish spiritually. In Romans 10:17 says, “So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ”(CSB). If we want our faith to grow, we need to be in God’s Word. The Word of God feeds and strengthens our faith.
In 1 John 5:2-3 tells us, “This is how we know that we love God’s children: when we love God and obey his commands. For this is what love for God is: to keep his commands. And his commands are not a burden.” As we spend time in God’s Word and then put it into practice, we discover that loving God is expressed through obedience. And in keeping His Word, our love for Him—and for His people grows.
James 2:26 says, “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” The works of faith are works of love. When we serve others, we are dying to self. The combination of God’s Word and God’s love produces God’s works in us. This is how the fruit of faith and love is produced just like in the garden.
I’m reminded of an old Maranatha song we used to sing: “More Love, More Power, More of You in my life!” Sadly, our self-centered culture has often infiltrated and influenced the church, so that we see less flourishing faith and less growing love for others and more love for self. But it doesn’t have to be that way for you. All we need to do is add the right spiritual elements, and the garden of our hearts will begin to flourish once again.
Agape,
Frank