“I asked her what was so scary about unmerited free grace? She replied something like this: "If I was saved by my good works -- then there would be a limit to what God could ask of me or put me through. I would be like a taxpayer with rights. I would have done my duty and now I would deserve a certain quality of life. But if it is really true that I am a sinner saved by sheer grace -- at God's infinite cost -- then there's nothing he cannot ask of me.”
33Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees,
that I may follow it to the end.b
34Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law
and obey it with all my heart.
35Direct me in the path of your commands,
for there I find delight.
36Turn my heart toward your statutes
and not toward selfish gain.
1 CORINTHIANS 3
5What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.
Yesterday was a good day. However like a lot of days...when I look back on it the question I ask is what was accomplished? How did I live out my calling? Did I pursue God's mission for my life? Those are big hairy questions and I really don't like thinking on them or about them. Because it brings me to 3 basic questions: 1) Why am I here? 2) Where is my Hope? 3) What do I do?JOURNAL
The answer from scripture is really not very complex...1) Because God created me 2) In the God who created me 3) Seek to obey him in every action and every moment.
Then why is it so hard? Why do I have such contrary and competing thoughts? Why am I not content to do this in every moment?
Then answer again from scripture is clear...Because we have rebelled from God, we have rejected God as God and either seek immortality in ourselves or in other people and things. Therefore our heart is divided and we battle this division every moment of every day.
When I look and read and think on this it seems so simple. It seems that I could just keep this in my heart and I could live in contentment and peace all my days as I serve and obey God. Yet it just takes about 10 minutes and I will be venturing down my own path.
It feels exhausting and hopeless, as if I will do nothing but fail and will never succeed in full obedience to God. Yet in these moments is where the power and beauty of scripture emerge...because God understands this, he forgives me time and time again. The beauty of the gospel is that it truly is all about grace and that every moment when I turn from him and go my own way...he is there patiently waiting to take me back. He is the good father who will never reject me when I seek him. He will never turn me away when I turn back busted up and ragged and in pain. He knows, he understands and he paid the ultimate price to prove it.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
LUKE 15:20-24
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