READ: John 6:28-29
A new Christian who just comes to Christ—who has received the grace and forgiveness and new life that is offered at salvation—wants and desires to please God. That is a good and beautiful response, in love, to the One Who loved us enough to die to restore us to Himself.
Sadly, many new Christians think the next step is to model their life after a list of rules. This new babe in Christ erroneously piles do’s and don’ts on top of his new found joy and peace and weighs himself down until he is miserable and left feeling guilty and joyless. When you become a child of God, you leave Law—the list of do’s and don’ts—and receive Grace. God tells us to stop trying to be good enough. If you need a job, God says believe in Jesus.’ Grace means throwing out the list of do’s and don’ts. Grace means God will give us His heart and His mind for what He desires for us. God will give us the self-control that we are afraid we lack. Grace means the Holy Spirit will give us the heart of God.
Lose the list
May 30, 2016