Two days ago I had the opportunity to hang out with a friend who I don’t get to see very often. Between all the talk of turkey hunting and fishing, I asked him about his walk with the Lord. From there the conversation turned to church attendance, mission trips, and the good feeling that results from these things. The only thing we didn’t talk about was Christ.
Walking away from the conversation, I was reminded of my need for a Savior. So many of us claim Christ, and yet we live as if being a Christian is about what we have or haven’t done rather than what Jesus Christ has done on our behalf. Ephesians 2:7-8 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” God has done everything for our salvation through the work of Jesus. And yet he has created us for good works (Ephesians 2:10). But even these works have been prepared by him beforehand for us to walk in. This frees us to rejoice in the One who has gone before us instead of trusting in our own ability to earn God’s favor or approval. What do our hearts rejoice in? Knowing HIM through our good works or our good works themselves?
~ Brinck Bowers