The weekly meditation scripture and inspirational nugget are designed to encourage you in your walk with God, strengthen your faith and give you a specific scripture to meditate on all week long. To get the most out of these weekly scriptures, we encourage you to keep them before you every day and apply them to your life and circumstances. Declare them daily and stay focused on them until you experience true results.
Living a Life of Grace
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For many of us, life consists of a series of obstacles to overcome, hoops to jump through, and barriers to deal with. If we view them through the lens of our own efforts, the challenges we face will dominate and defeat us. Before Jesus came, the people were accustomed to constantly performing; they accepted this requirement without question. However, Jesus’ finished works have moved us past that point, and we need to change our mindset accordingly.
Under the Law of Moses, the people had to work hard and follow strict rules before being blessed. If they obeyed God, they would be able to eat; if they didn’t, they would be punished. God’s blessings were contingent on their works, not on their faith, and the law proclaimed a long list of curses for disobedience. Thankfully, what was true under the law is no longer true under grace.
The way to life, here and in heaven, has changed. When Jesus met the rich young ruler who asked what he had to do to be saved, the answer He gave the man was based on the law. However, after Jesus’ death and resurrection, the answer the apostles gave the jailer who asked the same question was to believe.
God doesn’t expect us to get everything right before He shows us favor; the finished works of Christ changed the requirements from doing to believing. The only thing that is expected is for us to have faith in what Jesus did for us on the cross, and in His love. The work of God is now to simply believe in the one whom He sent. This kind of thinking didn’t exist under the law, which focused on works and not on faith.
We no longer have to toil endlessly. God has already overcome every obstacle that could stand in our way. Believing this frees us from the bondage of living by the world’s standards and allows us to be the unique individuals God created us to be.
Prayer:
God, we could never please you through our deeds, because we’re all imperfect people. Thankfully, You’re already pleased with us when we believe in and accept Your Son. We’re grateful for this. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Scriptures:
Isaiah 1:19, 20, NLT
Deuteronomy 28:1-68
Matthew 19:17-19
Mark 10:19
Acts 16:31
John 6:29
