"The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin." - Romans 14:22-23 ESV
Ever condemn yourself later for doing the 'right' thing?
The moral man will say, 'No, Do right and you will never regret it!' but that is very naive. It is just the lesser of two evils and there can be great regret attached to doing the right thing when you discover later you were deceived about what was right.
Faith is different. Faith glorifies God. Biblical faith proceeds from God and is mirrored in us.
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." - Galatians 2:20 KJV
When faith comes from co-crucifixion. Our mind may be darkened in time so that we regret actions that may seem to be linked with hardship but God is pleased by our faith.
The faith of the Son of God mirrors His life and attributes. Kindness and mercy are there. Grace is there. Love for people is there. Confidence in God's will was the hallmark of Jesus' life. Jesus' life of faith brought Him to the greatest hardship any man has ever faced... the cross. But, The cross was not the end. It was the beginning.
Our cross is our beginning also. Our cross is His cross. His death is what we must bear. The consequences for our decision right and wrong were born there. Good but faithless decisions that lacked all kinds of information and perspective and bad ones done in rebellion and full disregard for others. All of it was put on that cross by God.
"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him... Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted." - Hebrews 11:6, 12:1-3 ESV
It's Monday and we don't have to go to work or any other place because it's the right thing to do. Our motives can be transformed once again. We can go by faith on a faith adventure. God can steer us in any direction He wants to when we are moving in an un-condemned momentum.
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