A Simple Christian

Devotional Thought of the Day:

Deuteronomy 33:3 (NLT)
³  Indeed, he loves his people; all his holy ones are in his hands. They follow in his steps and accept his teaching.

155      You want to follow in Christ’s footsteps, to wear his livery, to identify yourself with Jesus. Well then, make your faith a living faith, full of sacrifice and deeds of service, and get rid of everything that stands in the way.

It seems the topic of faith and works make for the most popular of blog posts.

One one side are those who are like the men in the video I saw yesterday, who demand that Christians force themselves to be fruitful (defined by how many converts they have “made”.  They consider this to be the way of Christ.  And if you don’t spend your life doing what they think you should, they say your conversion is not valid.

On the other side, are those that say what you do doesn’t matter. That we are saved by grace, not by our works. Therefore, those who focus on work in their spiritual walk are not “getting” it.  Even if they don’t count on the works to save them, any attempt to do things because of their relationship with God is suspect.

Both sides are in the ditch, not understanding something that goes back to the garden of Eden. That trusting God is something that is a relationship, a journey together.  Walking with God, like children walking in the steps of their older brother.  As we walk with Him, we do those things He does, loving, showing mercy, forgiving, serving, sacrificing as He would,

That is how He makes a masterpiece of our lives, in a natural, simple way.

That is how as well, we shed the things, like sin, hatred, greed, envy, that the writer Hebrews says traps us, keeps us from living in peace.  Instead, we are urged to look to Jesus. Paul says the same thing, that as we look to Jesus, the Holy Spirit is at work, transforming us, God is at work,in ways we don’t even realize…

Teaching us how to love, to be like Him…. to know His peace…..

This is good, this is how we are meant to live…so trust in Christ, let the Holy Spirit drive your devotion to the Lord… and live in Christ!

Escriva, Josemaria (2011-01-31). The Forge (Kindle Locations 738-740). Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.