Stop Running

Sunday 03 May 2026

Stop Running - Coming to God, not running away.

There is so much that we don’t understand about our relationship with God. For example, I will never fully comprehend the extent of God’s grace. And I’m sure it’s the same with you. We know the Bible tells us that Jesus has paid the full price for our sin (rebellion). We know that since we believe in Jesus as our Saviour we are now in a new relationship with God. In fact we are new creations! But we’re still sinful. We still disobey God. And when we become aware of our sin, we feel guilt and sorrow - which are not bad things. But then we are tempted to wonder if God will go on forgiving us. After all, we find it really hard to go on forgiving others for the same thing every time.

And the moment we doubt God’s mercy and grace is the moment that we turn away from the cross and rely on our good works instead. We think, ‘If we read the Bible more, spend more time praying, get more involved in the work of our congregation, be more loving, be nicer, go to church, we will be more worthy of God’s love and forgiveness.’ But that’s our sinful nature and the Tempter talking.

That is not how God’s plan of salvation works. Even if we have only a mustard-seed size faith, we are safe and secure in the grace of God. We don’t have to run away from God in fear. God calls us his children and that is what we are!! He says we are chosen, holy, authorised to come before his throne of grace every day (priests of the King) - and he calls us his special possession. So we can come to him without fear, knowing that Jesus paid the sacrifice for sin once for all – for all past, present and future sins! And that’s not meant to encourage us to take sin for granted. The story of humanity is one of running away from God – chasing other gods. But now the new life of the Spirit we have in Jesus is to be the motivation to declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Pastor Robert Voigt