Archives for March 11, 2015

Devotion

I used to think it was my job save the world. By squeezing in one more mission trip over the summer, saying a prayer with a little more fervor or displaying an act of perfect piety in the face of peer pressure, I thought I could conquer unrighteousness and God would be exceptionally pleased with me. It was exhausting, not to mention misguided.

It's hard to pinpoint the exact moment when I began to understand that it's God who does the saving. Thank goodness I learned it was okay to surrender God's work to God and enjoy God's gift of grace.

Paul points out to the Ephesians that Christ invites us to partner in God’s redeeming work in the world. It's not up to us alone to save, nor are we given an extra star on our heavenly deeds chart for the good we do. Each of us was particularly equipped by the Spirit to serve our neighbor, and through faith we trust that God works in, despite and through us.