Anything but Ordinaryಮಾದರಿ

The World of Do versus Done

The world in which we live is fixated on success and achievement. When we do reach a level of satisfaction with what ‘we’ have reached, it can often give us a sense of self-reliance. This can create a feeling that we have somehow done enough to earn God’s favour, that our work can ‘justify’ us. We can think that our good hopefully outweighs the bad. We can slip into thinking that we don’t really need this grace.

Notice how it says that “by Grace you have been saved?” And in our world, we go, ‘What could I possibly need to be saved from? I am a good and upright citizen. Sure there are bad people in the world, but not me. Sure, the weak and messed up people may need this Grace but it’s OK, I can make it on my own.'

Don’t make the mistake of comparing yourself to others instead of to a perfect Holy God. When we measure ourselves against Him it changes everything. Let’s imagine we created a movie montage of everything you have thought, said and acted on in the past month. Then we invited everyone to come and watch. Would you be excited about that? I don’t think so. I wouldn’t. Why? Because there are things we are ashamed of. Things that are not right. That is called sin and it separates us from a relationship with God. Now and forever. When we die there is no floating around. There is no ceasing to exist. We keep living in Heaven with Jesus, or we keep living in the absence of anything good without Jesus, Hell.

Friends, we can’t have a relationship with God in our own strength. Have you ever tried to clean up a mess with a dirty cloth? The more you rub the more mess you make. That is what it is like when we try to sort our lives out on our own. We need a clean cloth. That can only come from a perfect God. We need someone to make those parts of our lives right.

It says “not from ourselves, but a gift of God.” God is the first mover. He reaches down in love toward a people who have turned from Him. This is the difference between Christianity and all other faiths. It is not us trying to reach up to God and one day hopefully make His standard. It is realising we will never make perfection and so we need Him to solve the problem of sin in our lives. It is a Father pulling their child out of a rushing river that would most certainly sweep them away if not for the strong grip of their dad.

A gift by its very nature is free, it doesn’t cost us anything. It shows the person has thought of us and cares for us. But it has to be received, opened and enjoyed. We can’t say, 'Oh Jesus thank you for the gift, I am just going to leave it in my cupboard.’ If you have never opened the gift Jesus is offering, open it right now. Experience it. Don’t say ‘Thank you, but I have enough gifts.’ Don’t say ‘Thank you, but someone else needs this and I don’t.’ Open it for yourself today!

Jesus Christ loves you! The gift of grace is free to receive, but it cost Jesus everything. The King of Heaven stepped down into our world. He gave it all up for love. If you don’t know Jesus - it is available for you today. Your life can be put right — I am praying for you right now.

Action Point: If you know Jesus, celebrate afresh the wonderful free gift of Grace. It’s incredible. New every morning. Don’t get tired of it. And if you have not yet received what Jesus is offering, you can take a moment to do that right now!