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Attempts at Honesty

Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and Culture

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Home Bible Reflection Mind the Gap

Mind the Gap

Posted on November 4, 2018 Written by Mark McIntyre Leave a Comment


I am appalled and a good bit chagrined at the gap between what I believe and how I act.

Mind the Gap

For example, I readily acknowledge the theological truth that there is nothing good in me that caused God to choose me as one to be saved. I fully believe in the Reformation idea that salvation is by grace alone and is unconditional. In other words, I did nothing to deserve God’s favor.

But, when I am confronted with my own failures, I become defensive and bristle at the idea that I fall short of what I am trying to achieve. I am irritated when someone points out my flaws and failures.

I am flawed and fail frequently. I know this and acknowledge this. The question is, why then do I try to hide what I know to be true? .

My attitude and actions are more consistent with the belief that I can make myself better and that all that is lacking is sufficient effort to move toward perfection. This is not consistent with what I claim to believe.

The knowledge of my inability to earn God’s favor should free me up to be who I really am. I don’t have to strive to be something that I cannot be. I am certainly not fooling God and most probably not fooling anyone else either.

Oh, maybe that’s why the Psalmist tells me to “cease striving and know that I am God.”


Filed Under: Bible Reflection

About Mark McIntyre

A follower of Jesus Christ who shares observations about how Scripture should impact the church and the world. Mark is the original author and editor of Attempts at Honesty.

I have the opportunity to go to Istanbul, Turkey this summer to minister to Syrian refugees. If you would like more details about this trip, please use this link Mark McIntyre - Istanbul, Turkey Please note that this trip is fully funded, but I would appreciate your continued prayer. The trip will take place June 27 - July 6, 2025.

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