Please Don’t Reject Grace
Galatians 2:21 (NIVUK)
I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing.
A teacher I had in South Africa often said - ‘Grace refuses our effort’. This was followed by the biggest smile you’ve ever seen. I find that such a helpful saying when thinking about what Jesus’ death has accomplished. Our lives are all about his grace! It’s ALL about his grace!
And if we think we can be righteous (get right with God) by our own efforts, then Christ died for nothing.
Whew - those words are strong!
Imagine our beloved Christ dying for nothing because we’re still trying to be good on our own: the Maker of heaven and earth, the Artist of you and me, being crushed in our place… and it being of ‘no use’ in our walk of faith.
Imagine how heartbreaking it was for Paul to see the Christians in Galatia rejecting God’s grace and going it alone. How would Paul have been, after his terrible past, if he had rejected God’s grace? His new life absolutely depended on the Cross. Many disciples hated him, certainly at first, holding him responsible for the arrest of many of their fellow Christians and trying to destroy the infant church.
Now imagine the passion of Paul when he’s been filled with the Spirit, washed clean, deeply forgiven. I imagine him writing this verse in tears, pleading for the Galatians not to set aside Jesus’ death by striving to be holy in their own strength. Paul is living proof that the blood of Jesus IS enough!
We, like Paul, have been justified through Jesus, who loved us and gave himself for us; we live by faith alone in him. We reject any inward plea that we are better than we are, and we fall back on Christ and his unconditional love! Calvary is enough for you and me.
Prayer - You’ve finished all the work Lord, through your suffering. Help us to shake off our heavy striving and to find deep gratitude in what you did at Calvary. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Song recommendation: Calvary’s Enough – Brooke Ligertwood