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.

Praise rather than protest...

 

Yesterday’s reminders about being thankful and that being thankful is the will of God, also reminded me of how easily I complain. Today’s reading reminds me again, that even the smallest dissatisfaction is finding fault with the Lord. He is sovereign and nothing escapes His notice or is out of His control. How dare I criticize the God I profess to love.

Examples: My toe hurts. It is too windy. The sun is too bright. The day is filled with interruptions. My cousin talks too much. I can’t find shoes to fit my narrow heels. The pizza is too salty.

Need I go on? Do these get excused because they are not about the ‘big’ things like corruption in the market place, drunk drivers, the seductive power of false teachers, or the floods and fires that ruin lives? Do I rate all these things like some people rate sin and make some excusable and others so disgusting that they are almost unmentionable and candidates for a self-righteous declaration such as, “At least I don’t do that”?

Every complaint I make is a verbal insult to God, a declaration that He is not doing His job the way I think He should. It isn’t that God needs me to affirm Him or His wisdom — He knows what He is doing and knows it is perfect. The problem is with me. I can easily talk and act like a spoiled child who wants all things done to suit her likes and dislikes.

What is the cure for such foolishness? I have written in a prayer request notebook that I cannot sin and praise God at the same time. Today’s reading affirms that by pointing out how many times the Bible tells readers to praise and thank Him. The word “praise” is used more than 230 times. Worship is used nearly 200 times, “thanks” and its variations about 130 times. Complain and grumble appear only 40-50 times and is criticized or expressed negatively in every one of those verses.

God saves His people from our enemies. Imagine complaining about that! He heals and blesses us. Do I not thank Him and only complain for more? How ignorant and wrong to think my wants are more important than His will or His wisdom.

Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing to his name, for it is pleasant! (Psalm 135:3)

He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord. (Psalm 40:3)

Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power. (Psalm 21:13)

At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules. (Psalm 119:62)

God is to be praised for what He does and for who He is. He is Lord of all, loves all, is righteous and good, and sovereign. He also says: “I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the Lord, who does all these things.” (Isaiah 45:7)

This leaves me with nothing to criticize. He knows what He is doing, even if to me it doesn’t seem right or I’ve no clue why some things happen. My role is to trust Him and declare that trust in praise.

PRAY: Today is a new day. It will be filled with all sorts of things. Will my reactions to each one be trust, faith, praise? Or will I doubt and complain? I know that Your Holy Spirit does not produce those sinful reactions. I also know how much I need to be filled with Your Spirit so that I am not sinning by grumbling or even thinking that You do not know what You are doing. Keep me in Your will — thankful and trusting You with all things, including all calamities —along with the well-beings that seem so much easier to praise.

 

Undeserved, amazing peace . . .

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:2)

Peace is often thought of as an absence of conflict, a feeling of well-being because there are no problems that disturb it. However, the Bible defines peace as being more powerful than serenity. It is rooted in God, who is called “the God of peace” and in His goodness and sovereign power. Because I know that God is involved in all that happens, I can be at peace, not anxious or in fear.

What causes anxiety and ruins peace? In Eden, it was a lie from Satan. He suggested to Eve that God did not say what He said or really wanted the best for her. His tactics haven’t changed much. He does whatever he can to make me think contrary to God’s Word and doubt that God is involved in my life. Lack of faith in God’s goodness and sovereign power will ruin my sense of well-being and rob me of peace. It leads me to depend on externals rather than Him and His promises, and to rely on myself and my own judgment. In other words, if peace is missing sin is likely present. The Bible says, “Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.”

Sin and peace cannot walk together — unless I’m totally deluded that my sin is okay, yet even then, that peace is fake and nothing like the peace of God. In fact, God’s peace is often a surprise, even a mystery:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6–7)

God’s peace is incomprehensible. It simply does not make sense. Why should I feel at peace with chaos all around me? Why should I experience peace when my husband was ill to the point of death? Or my children were in physical danger? Or when life is full of losses, or negatives? This peace from God makes no sense during those times when many people are taking valium, drinking to forget their problems, ill from stress, or even choosing suicide.

Sometimes this peace is accompanied by a joy so great that I feel ‘survivor’s guilt’ when listening to the news or someone’s sad news. Our Christmas was blessed, but people died in snowbanks in their cars. I cried, yet that peace would not go away even then. I’m thankful for many blessings such as healthy and productive children. Yet other families are weeping with kids in jail, on drugs, or running away from home. Who am I to be so blessed?

The Bible speaks of grace along with peace. Grace is ‘God’s riches at Christ’s expense’ — it is God’s great kindness toward those who are undeserving of His favor but who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. MacArthur says, “grace is the fountain, and peace is the stream.” Recipients of His grace enjoy “peace with God” because we are reconciled to Him through faith in Jesus. I will never experience His wrath. I also have the “peace of God” — again His amazing way of assuring me that He is in control even amid difficult circumstances. No matter what this new year brings, it will bring peace to God’s people. Our part is refusing to allow sin or difficulties to sway our total trust in the reality that God is God!

I could list reasons to be anxious. Just that long to-do list is enough to mess with my peace, never mind the inevitable interruptions and life’s unexpected surprises. The daily news can do it, or the winter weather, or contrary people . . . or a whole list of stuff. But God says to bring all those things to Him, and be thankful, because “He can do exceedingly abundantly more than I can ask or imagine” as He guards my heart and mind with His amazing peace.

This makes application simple: Sometimes I feel like ‘God’s spoiled brat’ and must never take credit for His gracious blessings. Instead, I must pray about everything and be thankful, knowing that God is taking care of everything and is my sole source of peace.

REFERENCES: John 16:33, Romans 5:1; 14:23, Ephesians 1:2;3:20, Philippians 4:4-7