Christian Foundations 1 - IdentitySample

FREELY SAVED

I suffer from kidney stones. When a stone starts moving down my ureter, the pain is excruciating. I might be a wimp, but I find it unbearable. And there is nothing I can do about it. Nothing helps. I am powerless. Thank goodness I have found a urologist who can save me. He operates, smashes and grabs that stone and sets me free from the pain. There is a significant cost involved, but it’s worth every cent.

We all have had a problem much worse than kidney stones. By doing what we wanted and living for ourselves, we were alienated from God and this had dreadful consequences for us, both in the present and forever. But we could do nothing about it. We desperately needed saving. We needed a rescuer, a Saviour. That’s where Jesus stepped in. But what does it cost us?

Read: Ephesians 2:1-10

Journal

1. What is God saying to me? Which verse is most significant?

2. What do I want to discuss/explore further?

3. What do I need to do?

4. What have I been saved from? Why did God save me?

Reflect

The grace of God is incredible, isn’t it? God loved you so profoundly that despite your deeply entrenched rebellion which was killing you and spoiling everything, he brought you to spiritual life through Jesus and gave you a significant place in his coming rule. He saved you. You became his child and heir. Wow! And you didn’t have to do anything good or right or godly. This new life in Jesus has come as a surprising and wonderful gift. All you needed was the faith to receive it when God freely offered it to you.

Of course, in a way, it’s not completely free. Jesus had to pay a terrible price in taking your sin on himself. It just shows how much he loves you. But for you, it’s completely free. That’s what grace is all about.

You will need to come back to God’s grace again and again. When you feel useless. When you feel discouraged. When you think you are achieving things by yourself. When you feel the weight of responsibility. When you struggle with failure or pride. Remember God’s grace. He freely chose to save you in love.  And nothing will change that. God has no second thoughts. No regrets. He doesn't change his mind.

God’s unending grace in saving you is the most important thing you will ever learn about your relationship with God. It will probably take you a lifetime to really appreciate it but let God’s grace sink deeply into you today. A prominent Christian author, Max Lucado, says: “Grace is God's best idea. His decision to ravage a people by love, to rescue passionately, and to restore justly - what rivals it? Of all God’s wondrous works, grace, in my estimation, is the magnum opus.”

Pray

Lord, I was trapped in my rebellion against you and just couldn’t break free. I was doomed and heading for hell. I wish I could have done something about my state, but I couldn’t. I was ensnared by my self-centredness and had no hope. Then you in your love reached out to me in grace and saved me. You gave me freedom from my brokenness and life forever with you - at no cost to me, but at an incredible cost to your Son, Jesus. I have earned nothing and received everything. I am astounded. This seems too good to be true. But it is so so real. I pray that I will live in your incredible grace for the rest of my life – soaking in your love, relying on your strength and trusting in your future for me.

Respond

See how many times today you can quote this truth to yourself: “I have been freely saved by Jesus and am now God’s child.”