Living for Jesus is not a payback

Today’s reading gives more reasons why I should never consider that my obedience is paying  God back for all He has done for me. Even if I could do it, I would be turning grace into a business transaction. If I could pay him back, my salvation could not be by grace. Grace is a free gift.

Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. (Romans 4:4)

I might do this trade thing when someone invites us for dinner and I want to return the favor and pay them back. Feeling obligated nullifies their gracious gift. God does not ask for that response to His gracious gift. Instead, I am to “praise his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. . . . so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. . . . who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:6-14)

Piper also points out that focusing on gratitude as an empowerment for obedience tends to overlook the crucial importance of future grace. In other words, gratitude looks back to grace received in the past and feels thankful. However, faith looks forward to grace promised in the future and feels hopeful.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Trusting God for the future strengthens my obedience. It is confidence in what God will do. Past grace builds confidence for that future that is not seen, but paying Him back turns grace into a trade. Instead, my obedience must come from trusting Him for more grace. This trust honors His promises and His power so I can say with Paul:

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10)

His trust was in God's promises, as did Joshua who heard God say: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9) This man then obeyed and moved as God directed and empowered him to move ahead.

God promises me what I need. I trusted Him on His past performance and faith gives me courage to trust Him for future needs. I am not to do the payback thing as reason for obedience but instead honor His promises to lead me and give me whatever I need for what He may ask me to do:

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32)

PRAY: I never know what each day brings, but I do know that You can enable me to follow Your lead and do Your will, not only because of past grace, but because of Your promises. Trusting You is vital. Thanking You is also vital. Trying to pay You back for all that You have done is an exercise in futility.