Unreligious: Week 3 - Day 1
OPENING PRAYER:
Dear Lord, help us to be thankful, that even though you know each of us completely, you love each of us absolutely. Help us to follow your commands, not so we can get something from you, but in response to all you have given to us.
“For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
REFLECT:
One of my biggest struggles early in my journey towards being a Christ-follower was my belief that surely I was “good” enough to get into heaven. I followed the rules, I was kind to people, I was honest and trustworthy (mostly); I was a good person. No matter how much I thought Jesus was a good idea and a person I wanted to follow, I just couldn’t let go of the idea that following Jesus and getting into heaven was based on what I did (or didn’t do). I was wrong. Thankfully I arrived at the truth. Jesus came into the world and died the death we all deserved. He paid for all our sins. There is nothing for us to do, we have only to believe and accept his free gift of eternal life.
I still strive to be “good,” and it’s pleasing to him when I am. Now, however, I strive to be good not to get saved but to honor Jesus, the one who saved me.
APPLY:
Doing good and right things is good and right, but do you beat yourself up when you mess up? The creator of the world loves you and has grace to offer for your sin. Be sure to have grace for yourself too.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Thank you Jesus for being the perfect sacrifice, for dying the death we all deserve that allows us to truly live.