The best things in life
In preparation for taking communion last Sunday, one of the elders of our church posed this question:
"Are the best things in life earned or received?"
Immediately I thought of the best things in my life: my husband, my kids, God's overwhelming love, and Christ's salvation.
And then I thought: There is no way I earned (or deserve) my husband's love. He loves me for who I am, flaws and all. He loves me no matter what kind of day I've had, the way I have treated him, or if I have failed in some area.
And then my kids. They are pure gifts! Yes, they are definitely received....received with much gratitude, awe, and trepidation at the weight of the responsibility to raise them.
And finally, God's amazing love and grace displayed through His gift of His Son. Not earned, but received. Because a gift, a true gift, is received, not earned.
I've lived much of my life trying to attain some degree of perfection or acceptance from others based on performance. Call it personality or eldest child syndrome or human. But a few years ago when I was digging deep into the book of Philippians with my Bible study, it hit me smack in the face and heart that my salvation and acceptance before God is. not. earned.
Philippians 3:9
...not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.
Paul had a long list of credentials, of reasons why he should be considered the most righteous person around. But he counted it ALL as loss compared to knowing Christ. He even saw his "good deeds" as weighing against him, not for him. Christ saved Paul. Paul didn't save Paul.
There's a huge danger in believing we can earn God's favor and salvation. Why? Because if we can earn it, we believe we deserve it. And furthermore, all the credit and praise would go to us, not to Christ, our Redeemer, the Son of God, the author and perfecter of our faith.
Romans 4:2
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.
And so my adoration and awe of Christ increase as I realize that there is nothing I can do to merit or achieve my own salvation. And that's freeing because it takes all pressure off and fills me with incredible gratitude! What a great God we have! What an amazing Savior and Lord we serve!
Thank you Jesus, for your wonderful, astounding, and completely free salvation!
Later the elder said "Now, gifts that are received are better given to others than tucked away in secret."
It made me think that this great salvation that we have is meant to be shared. It's meant to be lived out. It's meant to be proclaimed!
2 Corinthians 4:5-6
For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
"Are the best things in life earned or received?"
Immediately I thought of the best things in my life: my husband, my kids, God's overwhelming love, and Christ's salvation.
And then I thought: There is no way I earned (or deserve) my husband's love. He loves me for who I am, flaws and all. He loves me no matter what kind of day I've had, the way I have treated him, or if I have failed in some area.
And then my kids. They are pure gifts! Yes, they are definitely received....received with much gratitude, awe, and trepidation at the weight of the responsibility to raise them.
And finally, God's amazing love and grace displayed through His gift of His Son. Not earned, but received. Because a gift, a true gift, is received, not earned.
I've lived much of my life trying to attain some degree of perfection or acceptance from others based on performance. Call it personality or eldest child syndrome or human. But a few years ago when I was digging deep into the book of Philippians with my Bible study, it hit me smack in the face and heart that my salvation and acceptance before God is. not. earned.
Philippians 3:9
...not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.
Paul had a long list of credentials, of reasons why he should be considered the most righteous person around. But he counted it ALL as loss compared to knowing Christ. He even saw his "good deeds" as weighing against him, not for him. Christ saved Paul. Paul didn't save Paul.
There's a huge danger in believing we can earn God's favor and salvation. Why? Because if we can earn it, we believe we deserve it. And furthermore, all the credit and praise would go to us, not to Christ, our Redeemer, the Son of God, the author and perfecter of our faith.
Romans 4:2
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.
And so my adoration and awe of Christ increase as I realize that there is nothing I can do to merit or achieve my own salvation. And that's freeing because it takes all pressure off and fills me with incredible gratitude! What a great God we have! What an amazing Savior and Lord we serve!
Thank you Jesus, for your wonderful, astounding, and completely free salvation!
Later the elder said "Now, gifts that are received are better given to others than tucked away in secret."
It made me think that this great salvation that we have is meant to be shared. It's meant to be lived out. It's meant to be proclaimed!
2 Corinthians 4:5-6
For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
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