Overcoming Grace-Resistance

"Irresistible"—that's how advertisers describe everything from potato chips to ice cream and candy bars. Who can resist food that tastes so good?

We all need some resistance, though. Eat right and take your vitamins, and you will resist disease. Weather-proof your outdoor deck, and it will resist water damage. Draw closer to God, and you will resist temptation. "Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).

Unfortunately, it's possible to resist good things, too.

In a worship service recently, the leader asked everyone to stand and form prayer groups of four or five people. A palpable hesitation filled the room. No one said it aloud, but I sensed a collective sigh among the crowd that said, "The service is nearly over; just let us leave. Please don't ask us to pray aloud with others we hardly know." Overcoming the resistance in my own heart, I moved to the end of my row and joined hands in a circle with two long-time friends and a guy I had never met before.

We bowed our heads, and instantly my resistance melted away.

"Father, I bring Dave before your throne," prayed my friend, kindness filling his voice. "Renew his strength to handle the leadership responsibilities he bears."

Soon the fellow I had never met before began to pray: "O Lord, help us stand firm in our faith. And when we fall, give us a safe place to land."

An unexpected tear formed in the corner of my eye.

It took just 10 minutes at the end of the worship service, but when our prayer time ended I noticed a different air in the room. Reverently, peacefully, hundreds of believers stood together in small groups experiencing the presence of God.

Why do we resist praying when prayer is exactly what we need? Why do we resist listening when we've already said enough? Why do we keep to ourselves when God created us for fellowship?

Why is forgiveness so sweet to receive, yet so difficult to bestow? Dwight L. Moody told about a man who was on the verge of death, so he forgave someone who had hurt him. But the sick fellow added, "Now mind you, if I get well, the old grudge still holds good."

Stephen got himself martyred by confronting some religious leaders with the message, "You always resist the Holy Spirit!" (Acts 7:51). That's a serious charge, but this is serious business. What devious evil causes us to resist the very things that would benefit us most? We resist reading the Bible. We resist humbling ourselves and following wise counsel.

It's even possible to become grace-resistant. We become so familiar with the gospel that we no longer drink freely and joyfully from the fountain of God's mercy. We lose our longing to bring others to the fountain too.

There's an old story about a king who grew increasingly frustrated with his subjects because of their frequent rebellions. In time, however, they surrendered their arms, threw themselves at the king's feet, and pled for mercy. He pardoned all of them.

A friend asked the king, "Didn't you say that every rebel should die?"

"Yes," the king replied, "but I see no rebels here."

Why resist the grace of God? "Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon" (Isaiah 55:7).