Effort = Reward
In the mind of humanity, the above equation makes perfect sense and is what we base a lot of our societal rules on. You put out great effort, and (if not immediately, eventually) you will be rewarded...either with financial success, a personal feeling of achievement, the kudos of your peers, or recognition by your children and grandchildren...now that's the best success you can achieve this side of heaven in my opinion!
But in God's plan, our efforts result in nothing. Or as Isaiah puts it, "all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment." In comparison to God's absolute and pure holiness, our very best efforts come up looking dingy and in need of a good scrubbing.
We can work and work and work our lives away, and we will not attain enough "goodness" to enter into God's presence. He is holy --- and we are not. No matter how hard we try, we cannot attain holiness, it is not achievable...by us.
But there is One who imparts His holiness to us, His brothers and sisters. Through Him, we take on a holiness that would never be ours without His atoning sacrifice.
"Because of God you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God. In Christ we are put right with God, and have been made holy..." 1 Corinthians 1:30 (NCV)
Not from works, so that no one can boast...our only cause for boasting is that we are loved by God. That because of Him, because of Christ's sacrifice for us, because of His Spirit working within us, we are made new...we are made holy...we are now able to come into His presence.
And we don't have to wait to go to heaven to do that...we can kneel before the throne of glory right now, acknowledging that He is there, and He hears our voices....we are in His presence.
Praises, praises! We have a great God who gives us so much.
Faith = Reward
Now...James does have a little bit to say about the connection between true faith and works...guess that's for tomorrow!
Loving my Christian brothers and sisters tonight...be strong in the faith, pray for each other, and share God's love wherever and whenever you can!
In the mind of humanity, the above equation makes perfect sense and is what we base a lot of our societal rules on. You put out great effort, and (if not immediately, eventually) you will be rewarded...either with financial success, a personal feeling of achievement, the kudos of your peers, or recognition by your children and grandchildren...now that's the best success you can achieve this side of heaven in my opinion!
But in God's plan, our efforts result in nothing. Or as Isaiah puts it, "all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment." In comparison to God's absolute and pure holiness, our very best efforts come up looking dingy and in need of a good scrubbing.
We can work and work and work our lives away, and we will not attain enough "goodness" to enter into God's presence. He is holy --- and we are not. No matter how hard we try, we cannot attain holiness, it is not achievable...by us.
But there is One who imparts His holiness to us, His brothers and sisters. Through Him, we take on a holiness that would never be ours without His atoning sacrifice.
"Because of God you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God. In Christ we are put right with God, and have been made holy..." 1 Corinthians 1:30 (NCV)
Not from works, so that no one can boast...our only cause for boasting is that we are loved by God. That because of Him, because of Christ's sacrifice for us, because of His Spirit working within us, we are made new...we are made holy...we are now able to come into His presence.
And we don't have to wait to go to heaven to do that...we can kneel before the throne of glory right now, acknowledging that He is there, and He hears our voices....we are in His presence.
Praises, praises! We have a great God who gives us so much.
Faith = Reward
Now...James does have a little bit to say about the connection between true faith and works...guess that's for tomorrow!
Loving my Christian brothers and sisters tonight...be strong in the faith, pray for each other, and share God's love wherever and whenever you can!
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