| | Just wanted to share a tidbit from a wonderful book by Wayne Jacobsen (He Loves Me! Learning to Live in the Father's Affection) He nails it, in my humble opinion. :)
"It's as if we can only keep the message of grace intact for the first fifteen minutes of someone's birth into God's kingdom. After that we start loading them up with the obligations of being a 'good' Christian:
"Of course we are saved by grace, but that doesn't mean we can just sit around and do nothing."
"God is a loving Father, but don't take advantage of that because he is also a severe judge."
"We are not saved by our works, but we still need to live a life that pleases him." (Which usually consists of a mix of bible reading, prayer, church attendance, and righteous deeds.)
By embracing this "but" theology, we end up with a performance-based relationship to God. We live every day concerned about whether we have done enough to be a 'good Christian', and judge others around us by the same standards. It not only takes away all the joy of knowing God, but also the depth and transparency of our relationships with each other.
Whenever we add anything to God's work on the cross, the message is distorted and we rob it of its power. Grace doesn't need any add-ons. But we are far more used to being conformed by external pressures than we are to being transformed by His inner presence. Once we experience God's delight over us as His child, we will find ourselves willingly abandoning our own desires and embracing His. Paul knew the righteousness that comes from trusting God was the exact opposite of the righteousness his works had produced in him. Once he tasted the lifestyle trust produced, he never wanted to return to his old ways.
"... that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith." - PHILIPPIANS 3:8-9
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| | Posted 3/15/2009 12:18 AM - 22 Views - 2 eProps - 1 Comment
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