For years I toiled under the weight of a “works” oriented salvation. I believed that to please God I had to work to earn His favor and His grace. When I did good things I believed my deeds were pleasing to God and, for the moment, I had gained His favor. But, when I sinned (and I did. A lot) I believed, even when I repented, God would make me pay with some consequence or retribution. I considered it, “Waiting for the other shoe to drop.”
It was a miserable way to live. I went about my day trying to figure out what the
shoe would be. Would it hurt? Would it drop when I least expected it? Would it drop when I was enjoying pleasant times? Would it drop on my friends? When it dropped would my friends abandon me? Would it grieve me or cause me emotional pain? Would I suffer?
Then in August, 2000, I learned my true identity in Christ. God showed me His grace and taught me I didn’t have to pay for any or all the sins I committed. He told me, “They’re all already paid for. Stop waiting for that shoe and let me show you how much I love you.”
I’ve never worried about that shoe again.
Editor’s Note: I ran across this post on Writinggomer’s blog and wanted to share it with my readers. Greg has some of the same issues I have expressed on this blog before about the state of the church today. Is the church more like a harlot or the Bride of Christ?
How would you like your eggs today, over-easy, scrambled, fried, sunny-side up, soft-boiled, hard-boiled, poached, or shirred?? How about your steak; rare, medium rare, medium, medium well, or well done?? Choice of potatoes? This sounds like questions for a meal in a restaurant right?
Can you relate the above questions to today’s Church? Depending on the meal you choose when eating in a restaurant, you, the patron, sometimes have Continue reading
But church folks can minister to families struggling with mental illness in effective, loving ways. Continue reading
One of my favorite contemporary worship songs is, O Lord, You’re Beautiful by Keith Green.
I call it one of my cry song, because every time I hear it or sing it with our praise team, I cry. It’s a beautiful cry and I’m full of joy when I hear it sung. My favorite lines in the song are in the first verse:
“And when I’m doing well, help me to never seek a crown
For my reward is giving glory to You“
What a beautiful attitude: As we serve others, as we love others, as we worship our Almighty Father, to have as our only reward bringing glory to God.
Think about it. The way we relate to others, the way we talk, the way we act, the way we respond in difficult circumstances, the way we respond to injuries, hurts and insults, the way we treat our enemies, the way we serve and love others–all with the attitude of bringing glory to God.
Wouldn’t that be a wonderful, life-changing, world-changing attitude for us to live out each day?
Oh Lord You’re Beautiful
by Keith Green
Oh Lord, You’re beautiful
Your face is all I seek
For when Your eyes are on this child
Your grace abounds to me
I wanna to take Your word and shine it all around
But first help me to just, live it Lord
And when I’m doing well, help me to never seek a crown
For my reward is giving glory to You
Oh Lord, please light the fire
That once burned bright and clear
Replace the lamp of my first love
That burns with holy fear
I want to take Your word and shine it all around
But first help me just to live Lord
And when I’m doing well, help me to never seek a crown
For my reward is giving glory to You
God performed a bone fide miracle Saturday in front of a dozen witnesses. Continue reading
