The scriptures teach we are born disconnected from God. It is only later, as we hear and receive the good news of what Jesus did that we are reconnected to the Father. In a sense all Christians are bilingual. Our native tongue when we feel pain, hurt or are suffering is to withdraw, isolate, turn inward and run to “objects”.  Objects are living or non living things we run to for comfort. Objects could be a half-gallon of ice cream, work, pornography, video games or an object could be using a person. The Bible says, all we like sheep have gone astray, each of us turns to our own way. This is our native tongue.

Our second language is rather than running to an object to help us we turn to relationship. Relationship with God, “Come to Me all who are struggling, I will give you rest for your souls,” or to a spouse or close friend to share your burden. “Bear each other’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

Every time I’m confronted with a struggle my knee jerk reaction is to fall back to my native language, it is what comes natural to me. I have to choose the healthier path to run to the Lord and share my battle with another human whom I trust.

This will always be a choice that I live with daily. It will never go away. I may do it right today and then fall back to what comes easiest tomorrow. The life of one who is following Jesus will always be a life of choices and there will always be the need for grace. I will never get it all right, I will never be good enough for heaven on my own! I needed a Savior 35+ years ago, but I need a Savior just as much today! “Come to Me,” Jesus said. Those three words sum up the heart of what Christianity is all about.

Blessings,

Scott