Jet lag has its blessings, like waking up at 5 in the morning with total energy! That is one part that I wish would go on forever, but being tired at 5:30pm and ready for bed is a little challenging :) Anyways, this morning, up early as usual, I was reading in the bible , the book of Romans, chapters 3 and 4. I realized that SO many people, Christians and non-Christians alike, have a misunderstanding of what God loves.
4:4 says, "Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. But to the one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness."
And a few verses earlier it says,
"…the righteousness of God through faitfh in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." (3:22-24)
God is not impressed when we say, look God, we’ve been good, helped these people, didn’t murder anyone etc. Because then salvation isn’t accepted as a gift but as something we think we have earned. What He loves is humility, when someone can realistically evaluate their lives, see all the bad things, and accept Christ’s death on their behalf. That is called faith. What I have noticed in myself and my friends is that it is often easy to accept that grace at the beginning of our journey with Jesus- accepting His death and salvation. But afterwards we start to feel like our works will earn His love, and when we fail He is disappointed. Yes, He gives us commands in how to live for our own health and the health and lives of those around us, but it often takes more faith to keep trusting God’s love and grace the longer we are Christians. I was strongly reminded by God this morning that He loves me when I continue to have faith in His love and goodness even when I can see all the dark ugly spots in my life.
Teaching Adventures 