We can’t save them

Here is a hard reality for us pastors.

We can’t save them.

This is true for ourselves too: we can’t save ourselves.

First of all we must remember that there is only one Lord and Savior: Jesus Christ.

And we all need Him to save us. We need Him to forgive us. We need Him to cleanse us. We need Him to rescue us. We need Him to change us.

We always get ourselves into trouble when we try to save ourselves by our efforts, by our cleverness, by our plotting and planning. But when we come to Jesus in full surrender, then He is willing and able to save us completely!

And the people whom we pray for, the people we serve, the people we share the gospel with: we can’t save them.

Our words won’t save them. Our compassion won’t save them. Our diligence and service won’t save them.

Of course God can use our words and compassion and diligence and service. Furthermore if we are abiding in Him, then it should be His eternal and life-giving words, compassion, diligence and service at work through us.

But they will have to surrender to Jesus just like we do if any of us are truly ever going to be saved.

It is His grace, His stripes, His atonement, His sacrifice that saves us.

Yes, we must believe. We must have faith. We must place our trust in Him.

Beautifully, He enables us to believe and He changes our mind about sin and selfishness and self-preservation. He convinces us that He is willing, ready and able and that we can’t do it alone, no matter how hard we try.

We can’t save ourselves and we can’t save them. And the sooner we remember that, the better. Because in the end we all have to give up trying to be a savior and instead we must surrender and let Jesus save us. Then and only then will we be saved. Kinda takes the pressure off, cause it’s not up to us. On the other hand, it is a timely and all-important reminder, as Christians and as pastors, that in all things at all times we need to point to Jesus, the Savior of all who will believe.

Jeremiah 17:14 Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; Save me and I will be saved, For You are my praise.