In our effort to avoid the appearance of “salvation by works,” we sometime dilute the truth of the gospel. Yes, we are saved by grace, and by grace alone. Salvation is a gift…unearnable, unattainable in our own strength. That’s what makes it the “gift of salvation.” We get that, right!
But nowhere in Scripture do I read that Jesus died so that we can live comfortable-cushy lives. And He did not save us so that we can go on living our lives the way we’ve always lived our lives…doing what we FEEL like doing; disregarding what we know to be true…as if we do not know the truth.
Jesus died so that we, too, can die. We are invited to “die to ourselves”…to our whims and our selfishness and our stubbornness…so that we can be made ALIVE in Christ. And the life we experience in Him sets us free – and empowers us – to become “faithful and obedient servants”.
Although we are not saved BY our works, we are saved TO work. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” ~Ephesians 2.10
May we step up and be faithful and obedient servants…full of joy and compassion…and shine brightly in dim places.
Rod & Rose 