By Grace Not works
I have come to realize through my studies that if our salvation and lives were based on works we could in a sense have a limit to what God could do in our life. I mean as long as I followed certain rules and accomplished certain goals I would kind of be able to expect God’s reactions and blessing to me. Even as much to say what he could ask of me. Now, however since we are judged and covered by grace and none of what I do really matters as far as his desire to love me and bless me, this means he can pretty much ask anything of me because we are his beloved. This is a scary truth because since God says I love you regardless of what you do, it means that the call he puts on our life, regardless of how uncomfortable or how no this is not the right time feeling I get, I must take that step of faith. His sacrifice plays an extremely powerful role in how we choose to live. We are falling in love with Christ as we learn about following him and within in that Love we will change. Think of when you met someone who you fell in love with, you did not just say I love you to them, but rather you anticipated things they would want and need to share your love with them. This is what Christ calls for us to understand, we may be called to missions, or preaching or serving or leading, but regardless of the call it is all done by Grace. We have to allow our thoughts of people, even the ones who try and hurt us and see them through the eyes of Grace. It doesn’t mean we have to let them continue to hurt us or wound us, but it just means that as Christ loved his enemies we must learn to love ours. This is not sugar coated to say that you will forgive them and become the best of friends, but that you will forgive them and leave their fate to Christ so that they may not carry that power over you anymore. Remember we are children of the one true God and because we are covered by His Grace, he will have people cross our paths that need to see how he Shines through us. My friends let Christ shine through you and remember what you do doesn’t matter it is who you are in Christ that does. In case your wondering who you are in Christ… You are His Beloved… His one and only… Amen!
