Chill Out!

Read Galatians 2:17-3:9

“After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by our own effort?” (Galatians 3:3)

Thoughts… Are you as guilty as I am in trying to get God to like you more? Even though I have been a Christ follower most of my life and have come to increasingly appreciate the grace of God as I get older, I still find myself occasionally steering back into the ditch of human effort to gain favor with God.

If I don’t feel good about some ministry effort, I’ll redouble my energy on the next activity. If I preach a dull sermon, I’ll work myself silly so the next one will be on the same level as the Sermon on the Mount—although that never seems to work. If I fall into a sin that I’ve promised to never do again, I find myself thinking of how I can make up for it—something akin to Protestant penance. If I am feeling unsuccessful, I will unleash a torrent of good works to compensate for my lack.

Sounds pretty goofed up doesn’t it? Well not so fast! I’ll bet you do the same thing.

Here’s the deal: Not matter what you do, you cannot get God to like you any more than he already does. In fact, the Bible says he loves you so much that even when you were still in sin, he sent his Son to die for you. That’s how much he likes you! You are the apple of God’s eye—don’t ever forget that!

So, as Paul is saying, since you don’t have to be perfect, quit trying! If you’re a Christ follower, relax! Chill out. You’re in. You’re on your way to heaven. You’ve got the Holy Spirit living within you. You are saved, forgiven, empowered, and favored by God. Reframe your thinking: Instead of focusing on your shortcomings, focus on God sufficiency. That’s what you’re depending on anyway. God loves you, warts and all. Allow him to work on your warts, but don’t forget to enjoy his unconditional love along the way—it will change your life.

I love the story of a private in the army of the Greek general, Alexander the Great, who ran after and retrieved the general’s runaway horse. When this lowly soldier brought the animal back, Alexander offered his appreciation by saying, “Thank you, Captain!”

With one word the private had been promoted. When the general said it, the private believed it. He immediately went to the quartermaster, selected a new captain’s uniform and put it on. He went to the officer’s quarters and selected a bunk. He went to the officer’s mess and had a meal. Because the great general had said it, the private took him at his word and changed his life accordingly—his way of thinking about the world, his way of perceiving himself, how he acted, how he lived.

As it relates to what God has declared to be true of you, why don’t you do that! Simply take God at his Word and change your life accordingly. You are loved no matter what. No go live like it.

Prayer… God, your grace is more than enough for me. It is greater than all my sins, and sufficient to compensate for all my shortcomings. As Thomas A` Kempis said, “He rides pleasantly enough whom the grace of God carries,” so your grace is carrying me, and it will carry me right into your eternal arms at the end of my days. For that I thank you.

One More Thing… “Free grace can go into the gutter, and bring up a jewel!” — Charles Spurgeon