When you’re exhausted you don’t want to be pushed and told to try even harder. Especially when we are down we need grace. Jesus is calling to him all who are weary. He will not urge us to try harder, instead, he gives us rest. And when we have rested, he will empower us with his grace to do what we can’t do on our own. I see Christianity as grace and that’s why it’s difficult for me to understand how people think Christianity as difficult or demanding. With the words of Gilbert K. Chesterton “Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.”

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Eph. 2: 8-10, NIV)

Christianity as Grace

The main thing in Christianity is God’s work in and through us, not us trying to behave in a certain way to please God. So, don’t let your idea of Christianity scare you away. Salvation is God’s gift from start to finish. You see, we just receive it through faith and then let God’s grace change us inside and out. It’s not about working our way into holiness; it’s about letting the Holy Spirit change us by God’s grace. Hence, embrace grace. Immerse yourself in the curriculum of grace as Max Lucado puts it. Let God’s grace surprise you with its power. I assure you, you will not be left wanting.

 

Gracious God,
Help us to see more of who you are.
Forgive us for staying away for fear or shame.
Thanks for inviting us into your presence just as we are.
We believe, help our unbelief.
Pour out grace upon grace, change us inside out.
Empower us for your service, Lord.
Show us what it means to be your child.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: Do you see Christianity as grace?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you embrace God’s grace as your own!

* [As you might have noticed, I enjoy reading the Bible in different translations and love comparing them. I have started linking the Bible verses toBiblegateway.com so you can easily read (and compare) them in the different versions I’ve used while preparing each post.].

Photo by Ray Hennessy on Unsplash, design by Mari-Anna Stålnacke. Linking up today with Dance with Jesus, Five-minute Friday.