January 8

You didn't earn the grace (unmerited favor) that God has given you, which makes it slightly uncomfortable and extremely beautiful, especially for people like me who feel like their worth is tied to what they produce. Anybody else? 🙋🏼‍♂️

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Three Thoughts

Grace means you can't take credit for your salvation. It wasn't your good behavior or your church attendance or how much you read the Bible that saved you. It was God's kindness. And that's something to celebrate.

EPHESIANS 2:8-9

God didn't save you because you deserved it. He saved you while you were still a mess, while you were still running from Him. Yet all the while, He was running toward you. That's true love. And it changes everything about how you see yourself and how you see Him.

ROMANS 5:8

Some people think that if you are a good person God will love you. But God's grace is completely different. Grace says, "God loves you, now you're free to become who He made you to be." One way of doing things (working towards love) is exhausting. The other is life-giving.

TITUS 3:4-5

Two Quotes

Pastor and author John Piper on the grace of God:

"Grace is not simply leniency when we have sinned. Grace is the enabling gift of God not to sin. Grace is power, not just pardon."

Author and theologian Frederick Buechner on grace:

"The grace of God means something like: Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn't have been complete without you."

Prayer

God, I confess that sometimes I still try to earn Your love. I still think that I have to perform or prove myself to be good enough for You. But truthfully, You loved me when I was anything but good. Help me learn to rest in Your grace today. Amen.

Question

What are you still trying to earn from God that He's already freely given you?

See you next Thursday,
Zach

P.S. If you've been following along with my chocolate chip cookie adventures on Instagram, I think I've created a winner. It's the perfect chocolate chip cookie for me. Recipe HERE. Let me know if you try it!