March 11-12 – All, free!

“Whatever I am now it is all because God poured out such kindness and grace upon me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10a TLB)

How many people have you met whose view of God has been distorted by false assumptions that they have to earn their way into God’s favor?

They've probably grown up hearing all of these statements:

• If it sounds too good to be true, it is.

• We make money the old-fashioned way — we earn it.

• There’s no such thing as a free lunch.

• There is no gain without pain.

• God helps those who help themselves.

Everything about life has taught them, and us, that we get what we earn in life. We value work, sweat, effort, and performance. It’s called the work ethic.

Overall, I like such a strong work ethic. God wants us to work at our jobs as if we are working for him. But God never relates to us based on our performance. The Bible tells us that everything God does in our lives — every blessing we have, every gift we receive — comes through his grace.

In other words, he gives us what we don’t deserve.

You say, “What a minute! I’ve worked for everything I have! I’ve put sweat equity into it.” But the truth is, if God hadn’t given you the energy and the brains to work, you wouldn’t have any of it. Every breath you have is a gift from God. He doesn’t owe you the next breath you take. It’s purely a gift from him.

We’re saved by grace. God blesses us by grace. God teaches us by grace. God uses us by grace. God takes us to Heaven by grace.

The Bible is very clear that everything we have we get by the grace of God: “Whatever I am now it is all because God poured out such kindness and grace upon me” (1 Corinthians 15:10a TLB).

We need God’s power in our lives. We need his principles to live by. We need his plan to operate upon. We need his purpose to live for.

But we can’t earn any of that. Though you and I deserve much worse, we get all of these things by grace. They are a gift.

(Adapted from Rick Warren)

“I'm Not Gonna Worry” - the Gaithers is today's music.